What will be your first priority when you start work July 1?
The most important thing will be to get to know faculty, staff, and students—the heart and soul of the college. A lot of that will happen by just walking around campus, shaking hands, introducing myself, and chatting. But I’ll also be holding regular and frequent town hall-style meetings to provide people with an opportunity for dialogue, and Q&A.

 

What’s the role of a community college?
It needs to be one of the main engines powering the economy of the region it serves. The main mission of a community college is workforce development. The primary focus of our faculty is teaching, not academic research, as at the major universities. We have recognized and respected researchers on our staff to be sure, but we’re all about educating and training workers for our emerging economy. The greater Kansas City area has committed significant resources and energies to becoming a hub for bio-sciences. Community colleges are critical to the success of those efforts. For every doctor serving on a hospital medical staff, there’s a need for ten technicians in various fields and specialties. That’s where community colleges play a major role. We work to develop partnerships with the industries and businesses in the region to provide them with the employees and training programs they need to succeed. And we have to be proactive about that. You have to be ahead of the curve, anticipating needs.

 

What do you like most about your job?
I’ve got a great job. I’m energized by the students, 18-22 year-olds eager to learn, working hard, full of hope for the future. And then the middle-aged adults returning to school to acquire new skills, to train for new careers. Community colleges are centers of life-long learning. How can you not love that? Community colleges used to be the last stop—the place young adults ended up if they couldn’t cut it at a four-year school. Now we’re the first stop. Our students are here because they know what they want to do with their lives. These are goal-oriented young people. My job doesn’t feel like a job to me. It’s fun. I feel like this is what I get to do, not what I have to do. I’m blessed.

 

What are your first impressions of Kansas City?
What a great place! There’s a powerful optimism in Kansas City. There’s a real “we’re getting it done” kind of attitude. The business com-munity is so engaged. It’s clearly committed to creating partnerships with educational institutions. There’s a lot of pride and a strong sense of civic identity. Plus, Kansas City has a rich history and a worldwide reputation for great music and great food. And you have a thriving arts community. I’m certainly looking forward to that. Of course, the college campus is just wonderful. Excellent teaching facilities. And all the fine art on campus makes for a unique learning environment.