NIC: President Swayne is competent and trustworthy

I value competence and trustworthiness in leaders. Nick Swayne, the president of NIC who was put on administrative leave for no reason by Banducci, McKenzie and Waggoner (who have power but cannot lead) is both competent and trustworthy. Take a moment to learn a bit about President Swayne; he is Idaho through and through, his roots go deep. His great-grandfather retired in Clearwater in 1947. His grandfather graduated from the University of Idaho and practiced law in Orofino.

Nick’s parents raised their family in Moscow. Nicks father graduated from the University of Idaho and practiced law in both Clearwater and Latah County. President Swayne graduated from Moscow High School and the University of Idaho.

Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and spent 26 years on active duty with domestic and overseas assignments including deployments to multiple combat operations as a commander. His final assignment was in Virginia, where he transitioned to an academic career and earned his Ph.D. — all while holding a full-time job and serving on the city’s school board.

In the spring of 2022, he applied for the open president’s position at NIC, a role for which he is highly qualified. He participated in multiple interviews with NIC and community stakeholders and started in that role on Aug. 1, 2022. Why Banducci, McKenzie and Waggoner would for one moment think that this competent, trustworthy individual with incredible interpersonal ability should not lead our college as president is unfathomable.

LORA WHALEN

Hayden