Nicolet College faculty, staff, students and the public had a chance to hear from the five finalists who want to be the next President of Nicolet College. The Board of Trustees held an open forum so the finalists could talk about their credentials and viewpoints. The college has been looking for a new leader after Libby Burmaster left last summer for a job in Maryland.
Dr. Kenneth Urban has been interim president and is a finalist. He says the focus has to be on students and the Northwoods..
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".....I'm talking about a journey that keeps in mind just how vital we are to the Northwoods economy. How critical we are to the success of our businesses, industries and our communities. I'm talking about the cultural enrichment we bring...."
Other finalists include Nicolet College Director of Human Resources Dr. Dan Groleau. He says he has deep roots here and wants to make Nicolet great...
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"...my vision for Nicolet is a culture of excellence and highly regarded as an institution of higher education and excellence, insuring an environment were creativity and innovation will occur...."
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Dr. Ron Erickson is an advisor to the Board at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. He says it was the education he received at a Rainey River Community College near International Falls that changed his life and wants to help others...
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"....I'm searching, just as you are, to find a partner to ignite the full power of a college and it's people. And it was a college, just like this one, with people in it, just like you, that made the full difference of my life. That is not a debt that I have not paid back in full yet...."
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Dr. Joe Fleishman, an Antigo native, is Vice Chancellor at a technical community college in Lake Charles, Louisiana.He says a college like Nicolet can provide opportunities to all regardless of your educational history...
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"...everyone is a college student because in a two-year college system we can have a program for everyone...."
Dr. Richard Nelson, Provost of Paul Smith's College in Paul Smith's, New York. Nelson gave as example two students named Nate and Amanda who found a life path through more schooling...
"....to me it has never been clearer that forward thinking community and technical college must play an ever more important role in creating the kinds of opportunities for the Nate's and Amanda's out there, strengthening business and growing regional economies...."
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Nicolet College Board Chair Ron Zimmerman says they hope to have a selection made by next week.
