Hey, Joe: The sequel

By MARC STEWART

Staff Writer

The North Idaho College Board of Trustees appointed former NIC President Joe Dunlap to the board during a special meeting Thursday afternoon.

Dunlap fills an open seat vacated by Judy Meyer, who announced her retirement in November. She called it quits after 22 years of service on the board. Her final day as an NIC trustee will be Jan. 31.

“Joe has held every role in higher education, and he gave fantastic answers to our interview questions,” said Christie Wood, NIC Board of Trustees chair. “Joe said he intends to support the college president.”

Dunlap will serve until the November 2018 election. Dunlap can run as a candidate in 2018, and if elected to the Zone 4 position, he would serve a two-year term until November 2020. He will be sworn in at the regular Jan. 17 board meeting.

“I’m looking forward to working with Joe Dunlap as he joins the Board of Trustees,” said NIC President Rick MacLennan. “He knows the work of our college, the value NIC brings to our communities and will be a key contributor to our future success.”

Dunlap, a Coeur d’Alene resident, beat out Russell McLain of Coeur d’Alene, Cynthia Elliot of Hayden and James Kimball of Coeur d’Alene for the seat. Dunlap’s Zone 4 seat covers areas of Coeur d’Alene, Dalton Gardens, Hayden and Hayden Lake.

“Joe’s knowledge and expertise stood out in the four candidates,” Wood said. “The other candidates were really great people too. We encouraged them to run in the future and to find ways to be a part of North Idaho College.”

During his presidency, Dunlap oversaw the establishment of 17 new technical education programs as part of the total campus offering, as well as several building projects including the Parker Technical Education Center and the beginning of construction on the Student Wellness and Recreation Center, which opened last fall.