Vice President for instruction Jay Lee has announced his intention to resign from NIC.
Lee tendered his resignation after being chosen as the new president of Colorado’s Northwestern Junior College.
“Although I am excited to begin the next phase of my career, I’m saddened by the realization that my time at NIC will soon draw to a close,” Lee said.
Lee has worked at NIC since July of 2008, where some of his tasks included managing the college’s accreditation and $20 million budget, taking a crucial role in planning the long-term vision and mission of the college, in addition to overseeing all areas involving instruction.
Lee attributes his time at NIC in positions of leadership as being crucial for preparing him for the position he will soon take.
“I think President Bell has given me several opportunities to be in significant leadership roles, and she placed faith in me to get things done,” he said. “Working with the State Board of Idaho and our local board has been an experience that’s also really helped me understand leadership responsibilities better.”
One thing Lee joked NIC hadn’t prepared him for was polishing his game of golf.
“I play, but I’m very bad; I’m a really lousy player. The college [NJC] has a golf course, so I think that’s pretty cool,” Lee said.
Lee said he had many proud moments while working at NIC, including how the office of instruction was able to handle NIC’s dramatic increases in enrollment, outreach center development, duel-credit enrollment expansion and improvements in eLearning.
One thing that particularly stuck out to Lee was the introduction of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy program to NIC.
“I’m very proud of the college adding the POST Academy, something we didn’t have when I got here,” he said. “We were able to secure that, and have that available.”
President Bell expressed appreciation for Lee’s time at NIC.
“I am grateful for the dedication Jay has provided to NIC over the past three and a half years and his sincere commitment to instructional excellence,” she said. “Under Jay’s leadership, NIC has been able to improve processes that have positively impacted both the institution and the students we serve.”
Although proud of many accomplishments at NIC, Lee empathized that none of it would have been possible without a large collaborative effort from employees on campus.
“I’ve been really fortunate, there are some really great people here and I’m going to miss working with all of them,” Lee said. “I’m going to miss working with the president’s cabinet and President Bell, who has done a lot to help me, to help my career. It’s going to be tough, there are a lot of people I’m fond of, and I’ve enjoyed working with.”
Even with a long list on names to miss and thank, Lee said he is eager to meet new people at the college of 2,400 students.
“The school I’m going to is smaller than NIC and I think I’m going to enjoy that,” he said. “NIC is a great place, but I don’t know everybody that I should know. At Northwestern I will be able to change that, I look forward to that.”
Lee was one of four final candidates for NJC’s presidency who met with Dr. Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System. McCallin was ultimately the one who made the selection of the new president.
“Jay Lee’s background in community college leadership, the comments from the college and community, and my time with him make me confident that he will be a strong, effective leader for Northeastern Junior College,” McCallin said. “We are all looking forward to working with him and welcome him to the system and college.”
Lee will assume his new role as president March 12.
“I’m honored to have been chosen to be the next president at Northeastern Junior College,” Lee said. “I greatly appreciate the faith placed in me by the Colorado Community College System, Dr. McCallin, the employees of NJC and the citizens of Sterling.”
The process of selecting NIC’s new vice president of instruction in a national search will be delayed until a new president is appointed by the board of trustees in mid-April to replace the retiring President Bell. An interim vice president has yet to be selected.
