|
New Administrators Talk About Their New Positions and
Goals
With fall semester fast approaching at Northeast Alabama
Community College, three administrators in particular are busy
settling into new offices and duties. They take a few moments
from their hectic schedules to share thoughts on their new
positions, duties, and goals.
Dr. Joe Burke, who served as Director of Admissions/Student
Services, has been named Vice President/Dean of Instruction at
Northeast. Burke came to Northeast in 1987 as Counselor and
Psychology Instructor. He has a BS degree from the University of
Alabama, MS degree from Jacksonville State University, and a PhD
from the University of Alabama.
In his new position he most enjoys working with the faculty.
“Northeast has the best instructors and I am honored to be
associated with such fine professional people,” said Burke. “I
also enjoy getting out in the community and surrounding area to
meet new people and let them know about the great things that
are going on at the college.”
When asked about his first day in his new position, Burke
replied, “That’s a good question. It was such a whirlwind that
I’m not sure the first day can be described! The first several
weeks and months will include a lot of learning about the
position. I am really looking forward to this new challenge.”
He described his family’s reaction to the news of his new
position as “excited and thrilled.” He said, “My wife and
daughter have been extremely supportive and encouraging. My
parents are very proud. They have instilled in their children
the value of education—evidenced by the fact that both my
brothers and my sister work in the field of education. I have
the greatest, most loving family anyone could have!”
Putting the focus on student learning is the most important goal
he has in mind for his new office. “We already know that our
faculty is doing an excellent job of teaching,” offered Burke.
“One indication of this is that four-year colleges tell us that
Northeast students who have transferred to their institutions
have as good as or greater grade point averages than their
native students. We have a strong foundation to build upon.
Recent research on how students learn is showing us new and
better ways to assist the learning process, particularly through
technology. Building on our present strengths, we want to help
our faculty have the instructional tools and technology and the
professional development they need to use the technology and
other learning resources most effectively.”
Burke can attest that Northeast is about students. He was a
student here years ago and remembers very well what it was like
to come here just out of high school. “I believe I can empathize
with many of our students as they seek to meet the challenges of
furthering their education. The primary reason for the existence
of Northeast is for students and we want to do everything we can
to help them succeed.”
“When I think of Northeast,” Burke said, “one word comes to
mind—‘innovative.’ Since Dr. Campbell became president about six
years ago, he has implemented many innovative initiatives that
have led to increased enrollments and made Northeast a better
community college. I am very excited and blessed for the
opportunity to be a part of this great institution,” he added.
Tonie Niblett left the classroom after having been a mathematics
instructor at Northeast since 1984 and chair of the math and
science division, to take on the new role of Dean of Student
Services. Niblett has a BS and MS degree, as well as the AA
certificate, from Jacksonville State University.
“I like the fact that my new position allows me to see an
entirely different aspect of the college,” said Niblett. “I have
developed a real appreciation for what the various offices do on
campus. I have had a chance to interact with faculty and staff
that I have never had before being in this position. The staff
in my office has been so wonderful to help me adjust to a new
and very different job. They have made the transition fun and
rewarding. At times, I have been a little taken aback at the
tremendous responsibility of this position, but the wonderful
folks in Student Services and other parts of the campus have
quieted my concerns and given me a full vote of confidence.”
She described her first day as beginning early. “The first day
that I arrived on the job, I came to the college at 6:30 a.m.
just to make sure that I was ready. Before I knew it I had
helped to solve several problems, wrestled with learning about
the technical issues of awarding transfer credit to students,
worked on security issues, then I looked at my watch and it was
four-thirty in the afternoon. I could not believe that the day
was over. As of today, each day has been pretty much the same,
that is, the day is gone before I know it,” said Niblett.
The members of Niblett’s family are very happy for her. “They
call me Dean Niblett at home to tease me. They are always
interested to hear what new and exciting things that I do each
day,” she added.
Niblett’s goal for the Office of Student Services is to come in
contact in a positive way with as many students as possible. “We
will continue to try our very best to make the students' first
contact with Northeast be as helpful as possible. We will try to
show them that indeed ‘Bright Futures and Careers Begin Here,’”
continued Niblett. One of her office priorities will be to
continue to implement Northeast’s Quality Enhancement Plan for
developmental education.
When asked to describe Northeast in one word, Niblett said, “As
much time as I spend at Northeast, I guess one word to describe
it would be ‘home,’ but the best words to describe Northeast—‘it
is a place of quality education.’”
Nicky Willmon has been named the new Financial Aid Director at
Northeast. He came to Northeast in 1990 as an economics
instructor and worked in the financial aid office as Student
Financial Resources Coordinator. Willmon has a BS degree from
Athens State University and an MBA degree from Alabama A & M
University. He was the first person from Northeast to graduate
from the Alabama Community College Leadership Academy conducted
by the University of Alabama College of Education.
When asked what he likes most about his new position, Willmon
answered, “Helping students receive money that can change their
lives. You can spend money on a lot of things in this old world
but very few offer the return that you’re going to receive from
spending it on your education.”
“I am a family-oriented person,” said Willmon. He and his wife
Karen have been married for eighteen years and have two sons,
Isaac (16) and Luke (14). “A close family is important to me,
and I think my family’s support will help me do a better job as
Financial Aid Director,” continued Willmon.
The most important goal Willmon has in mind for his new office
is to maintain the friendly and helpful atmosphere that former
Financial Aid Director, Harold Brookshire, created in his years
of service at Northeast. “We have students that are nervous and
even scared about returning to school. It is our job to go
overboard in helping ease these students into college. We will
do everything we can to help the student and this is our goal,”
added Willmon.
When asked which one word he thinks best describes Northeast
Willmon said, “Opportunity!”
“We are very pleased to have these new administrators on board,”
commented Dr. David Campbell, NACC President. “Each has paid
their dues here at Northeast and in the past greatly contributed
to the college in other capacities. One of the great rewards of
my job is appointing people of their caliber to positions at
Northeast, seeing them excited about it, and knowing that our
students and staff are going to be well taken care of in the
future. Our Search Committees, of course, play a great role in
this process and I would like to thank them as well.”
Newly appointed administrators at Northeast
include (L-R), Dr. Joe Burke, Vice President/Dean of
Instruction; Tonie Niblett, Dean of Student Services; and Nicky
Willmon, Director of Financial Aid.
 |
