"Russell Kavalhuna, who was named the new chancellor of Virginia's 23 community colleges, is no longer expected to take the job, a surprising turn of events following a tumultuous hiring process and interference from Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Douglas Garcia, vice chair of the board, wrote in an email to the community college presidents Monday night that Kavalhuna is negotiating an agreement to remain with Henry Ford College in Michigan. In his absence, the State Board for Community Colleges named Sharon Morrissey its interim chancellor.

'The board will move forward with our duty in selecting the next chancellor, one who will share the governor's and the board's strong passion for developing the talent that Virginia's businesses need to thrive and the types of credentials that allow Virginians to have better lives,' Garcia wrote in the email, which was obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch," reports Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Photo: Russell A. Kavalhuna, who leads Henry Ford College in Michigan, is a former federal prosecutor and airline captain. VCCS