Keuka College has selected Richard E. Quest to be its new associate vice president for the Center for Professional Studies.

Quest comes to Keuka from Corning Community College (CCC), where he served as associate dean of academic excellence and extension. He replaces Gary Smith, who has assumed new responsibilities as vice president for the Center for Professional Studies.

“Dr. Quest has the important responsibility of enhancing our program quality and assessment while strengthening our relationships with our community college partners,” said Smith.

Quest will manage five program areas and seven degree programs that by this fall will enroll approximately 800 students off campus at some 20 sites, according to Smith. The Accelerated Studies for Adults Program and Wertman Office of Distance Education fall under the umbrella of the Center for Professional Studies.

“We are confident that he will provide the leadership required as Keuka continues to expand its non-traditional programs off campus,” said Smith. “His strong academic background working with community colleges was part of the reason he was the top candidate for the position.”

At CCC, Quest was responsible for the concurrent enrollment program, honor society, honors program, Career Pathway program, and articulation agreements.

Quest is founder and president of Duffy Books in Homes USA Inc., a not-for-profit literacy program that targets elementary schools with 50 percent or more students living in poverty. The organization secures funding to provide students with books of their own choosing to promote a love of reading.

Quest earned a doctorate in educational organization and leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and master’s (social science) and bachelor’s (anthropology) degrees from Binghamton University. He is a New York state permanently certified teacher of social studies in grades 7-12 and holds a New York State Public School Administrators certificate.