PRATT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Pratt Community College Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to name Dr. Carl Smalls as the next President of Pratt Community College. Dr. Smalls is expected to arrive on campus by the beginning of August, before the start of the Fall 2026 semester and the 2026-2027 academic year. The Board’s decision reflects strong confidence in Dr. Smalls’ record as a higher education finance leader, strategist, and student-success advocate. Members of the Board expressed enthusiasm for his appointment and said they are looking forward to welcoming him and supporting a smooth transition into the Pratt community.
“I am pleased that Dr Smalls has agreed to live in Pratt and think that the skills he is bringing to the job are exceptional. Our conversations have been very encouraging, and I know he will make a great addition to the team.” — Mark Morgan, Chair, PCC Board of Trustees
Dr. Smalls currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration at Danville Community College, where he oversees a $30 million operating budget and leads finance, grants, facilities, information technology, campus security, capital projects, and auxiliary services to support student success and institutional sustainability. A seasoned higher education executive, finance leader, and scholar-practitioner, Dr. Smalls brings more than three decades of leadership experience spanning community colleges, public and private universities, and the private sector. His expertise extends across accreditation, strategic planning, workforce development, and institutional advancement; areas that will serve PCC well as the college continues to grow and serve its students and the surrounding region.
Dr. Smalls holds a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Kansas State University’s John E. Roueche Center for Community College Leadership. He also earned an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Atlanta University Graduate School of Business and completed executive studies in Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. A published scholar and national presenter on community college governance and leadership, Dr. Smalls is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, a Lakin Fellow of the Thomas A. Lakin Institute for Mentored Leadership, and a Fellow of the American Association of Community Colleges Future President Institute.
The Board of Trustees and the entire PCC community look forward to Dr. Smalls’ arrival and to the leadership, vision, and experience he will bring to the college. His transition to Pratt marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the institution as it prepares for the upcoming academic year.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Carl Smalls as the next Pratt Community College President. We look forward to working with him as we continue to fulfill our Mission of “…maximum student learning, individual and workforce development, high quality instruction and service, and community enrichment,” and as we plan for the future.” — Monette DePew, Interim President & VP of Instruction, Pratt Community College
Dr. Smalls will assume his role as President of Pratt Community College before the start of the Fall 2026 semester.