A finalist for the presidential position at Western Iowa Tech Community College said he will work hard to reach outside constituencies, in a time when the value proposition of college education isn’t always accepted.
Terry Lindsay, a current college official in Georgia, said, “We are fighting an uphill job because folks are telling students they don’t need college.”
Lindsay added that community colleges are the most affordable option, but many of its students still have struggles to afford attending. He added it is necessary to have supportive student services, and to make sure that students of all demographics see themselves represented on campus.
Lindsay said it is imperative that WITCC employees “make it a welcoming community for all who walk on campus.” To reach that goal, he said that as president he would not only seek to fully know the college and its processes, but then use that information to make improvements that fit within the institutional budget.
His remarks came on Friday when speaking in one of many sessions meeting students and college employees.
Lindsay has 32 years of experience in higher education, and has been the Vice President for Student Affairs at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, for nearly six years.
“You can go to any institution I worked at and anyone I worked with, and they will tell you, ‘Doctor Lindsay cares,’ “ he said.
Each of the three finalists spent one full day with college employees and students.
Prior to Lindsay, the other two to come to campus in Sioux City were Terry Gaalswyk, who is President at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, Minnesota, and Michelle Allmendinger, the Vice President of Student Affairs at Southeastern Community College, in Burlington, Iowa.
The three finalists were selected from 30 applicants.
Terry Murrell has been the current WITCC president for 14 years, and will depart this summer.
The college board of directors plan to deliberate on the three finalists in their next meeting on Monday, April 13, and announce a selection on April 27, to begin the presidential post on July 1.
More information can be found at Presidential Search - Western Iowa Tech Community College.
