New presidents were named Thursday for two of the metro area’s largest community colleges: Tim Wynes of Iowa was appointed president of Inver Hills and John O’Brien was promoted from within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to head North Hennepin.

Between them, the two colleges serve nearly 15,000 students a semester and thousands more through continuing education and special training classes.

North Hennepin, in particular, has become an educational gateway for thousands of immigrant students from across world whose families now have settled in the northern Twin Cities.

North Hennepin

O’Brien, 47, was academic vice president and chief academic officer at Century College in White Bear Lake. But he has been on leave from that post recently while directing a MnSCU initiative to improve student services.

“We work very hard to grow strong leaders within the system as we did with John O’Brien,” MnSCU Chancellor James H. McCormick said in announcing the appointment. “I am pleased that he was able to rise to the top after a thorough process that sought out the best talent. He is well suited to this college.”

For his part, O’Brien call North Hennepin “a gem in the system,” noting that “the campus is rich with many kinds of diversity.”

In 2008-2009, O’Brien served as acting president of Century College. He also has been an associate vice chancellor and system director for instructional technology in the system office, and an instructor at Normandale Community College, Augustana College in South Dakota and the University of Minnesota.

O’Brien holds a bachelor’s degree in English and education from Augustana College, a master’s degree in Anglo-Irish literature from the University of Dublin, Trinity College in Ireland and a doctorate in English from the University of Minnesota.

He is to replace Ann Wynia, who is retiring, on July 1.

Inver Hills

Wynes, 55, has been chancellor since 2002 of the Iowa Valley Community College District, a two-college institution serving four counties in central Iowa.

An “impressive field of candidates” applied for the job, said McCormick, the chancellor.

“I am pleased that we attracted such a high-quality leader to our system,” he said.

A statement announcing the appointment included this quote from Wynes: “I am thrilled to be able to serve the system, and like my predecessor, I will be a strong advocate for this fine college.”

Wynes is to replace Cheryl Frank, who is retiring, on July 1.

Before serving at Iowa Valley, Wynes was executive dean of governmental affairs, grants and college research at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa; general counsel and director of the Division of Legal Services in the Missouri Department of Social Services; and a faculty member and assistant professor of clinical law and clinic director at the University of Missouri School of Law.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Cornell College in Iowa and a law degree from St. Louis University.