35 years
Jean Evenson
What piece of advice would you give to a new hire to NIACC?
My advice would be to embrace all of the changes that are inevitable in your new job. The great news is that you will always be able to find someone at NIACC to help you adapt to all of the changes that will occur. Most of all, remember that it is always about your students and their success! Enjoy the ride.
Lori Quinlan
What piece of advice would you give to a new hire to NIACC?
“Do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do.”
The NIACC family will grow on you, and you will have many opportunities to flourish. Establish roots while branching out by creating lifelong relationships and experiences that will build your character. One character building experience leads to another. Wake up each day smiling. Your smile may change others as you positively impact their lives, but you will not know it immediately. People will depend on you to be a leader who can master tasks while being respectful. Your respectful manner will change people’s viewpoints. Be consistent yet tactful; sometimes the truth needs to be heard, but tell it gently. Be thankful/grateful and appreciate the many small moments, because they add up to the greater moments. Celebrate your life milestones and acknowledge other people’s accomplishments as well. Lastly, enjoy yourself while working at the best community college in Iowa.
30 years
Jim Degen
Tell us about an event, project, program, or initiative you were involved in at NIACC that you are most proud of.
The think I am most proud of is the Networking on Campus. I have been working on it since the beginning.
Mark Greenwood
Tell us about an event, project, program, or initiative you were involved in at NIACC that you are most proud of.
The past 30 years has seen a lot of changes with the technology used at the College staff and students, and I am proud of my involvement in that path; and I continue to be excited to see what is to come. I am most proud of the leadership role I played in transitioning to the Datatel/Colleague information system. (Can we do it? Yes, we can!)
20 years
Susan Callanan
How would you describe NIACC’s culture in three words?
Dedicated, connected, collaborative
Joe Davis
How would you describe NIACC’s culture in three words?
Home, family, chocolate
Cindy Eyberg
How would you describe NIACC’s culture in three words?
Vital, Progressive, Community
Lisa Ludwig
How would you describe NIACC’s culture in three words?
Belonging, Challenging, Proud
Charlie Schroeder
How would you describe NIACC’s culture in three words?
Sharing, learning, caring
Anytime we can share knowledge, experience, and the joy of learning, it’s a very good place to be, and that would be NIACC.
Heather Wright
How would you describe NIACC’s culture in three words?
There are many words I would use to describe the NIACC culture but the three that come to my head first are welcoming, engaging and collaborative. Just a few of the many reasons I’ve chosen to stay with NIACC all these years.
15 years
Wayne Allison
Larry Kollman
Which of our Core Values do you identify most closely with?
Learner success: My teaching philosophy is to teach the students not the curriculum.
Cindy Lind
Which of our Core Values do you identify most closely with?
Learner Success is the Core Value I identify with most closely. Helping students succeed is important to me. That’s why of fifteen years I have enjoyed helping students with getting the FAFSA done easily so they can focus on their classwork. I look forward to continuing to help them in the future!
Curtis Vais
Toby VanDenBosch
Which of our Core Values do you identify most closely with?
Although I think all the Core Values are important, if I have to pick just one, I would choose Learner Success. Since I teach medical courses, I find it very gratifying to witness former students with successful careers in their chosen field.
Ken Webber
10 years
Angela Backhaus
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
I am most proud of the positive impact NIACC has on North Iowa. In addition to serving student and campus needs, the majority of my time is focused on connecting with community members, schools, other service organizations, and employers. North Iowans connecting with NIACC results in opportunity --- new, different, better, brighter!
Terri Beland
If you had to choose only one thing – what would you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
: I’m very proud and grateful to have worked on this beautiful NIACC campus, where each employee is here to help students succeed and have a good experience. I am also proud to have helped prepare 18 graduation ceremonies to honor our students! I will forever treasure the friendships I’ve made through my NIACC family!!
Ryan Bochmann
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
One of the things that makes me most proud to be a NIACC employee is the friendships I have made over the past 10 years. Not only as just coworkers, but true personal friends and especially in the industrial division. With working from home now being a normal routine, the one thing I miss most about not being on campus is the conversations among my coworkers. If it weren’t for the great group of guys I work with in the Industrial Division, there would be no way I would drive 50 miles one way to work!
Heather DeWaard-Flickinger
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
The one thing that makes me most proud to say that I work at NIACC is the people. The students, faculty, staff, and administrators make NIACC a great place to work.
Shannon Dodd
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
I would say the thing that makes me most proud to say that I work at NIACC is the solid foundation we provide to students. I am so proud NIACC provides students a solid foundation to enter a career field, continue on with their education and gives them the skills they need to be successful in life. The caring staff and faculty here do the best they can to ensure students are given every opportunity to succeed!
Sheryl Fitzpatrick
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
What makes me most proud to work at NIACC is our students. We have a wide range of age and demographics with our students and they bring such rich experiences to class discussions. I love to learn and I learn every day that I teach at NIACC whether online or F2F.
Jana Grzenda
If you had to choose only one thing – what would you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
When I think of why I’m so proud of NIACC, I remember that old saying, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” My job allows me to work with a lot of NIACC change-makers--deeply committed faculty and staff who are continuously brave enough to ask the hard questions, embrace new ideas and make investments to strengthen our college and best serve our students. They inspire me every day.
Connie Notermann
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
The thing that makes me most proud to work at NIACC is the relationships that we build with the students who attend here. It’s so fun to see them meet their accomplishments and to see the smiles on their faces on graduation day! Many times I have heard a student say that it’s so nice to come to NIACC and have SO MANY moms here looking out for us. Then 10 years down the road those students are successful adults with children of their own. This always puts a smile on my face!
George O’Donnell
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
I am proud to have had the opportunity to engage in what NIACC does every single day, make a positive impact on the future of the North Iowa community.
Denise Petersen
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
Of course, I am proud of all of our students’ success. However, I am particularly proud to see a student succeed when he/she didn't think that they would succeed.
I am mostly proud when a student recognizes and attributes their overall success to the NIACC student services offices and faculty for guiding them through; it's a great feeling to know we all made a difference!
Rodney Zehr
If you had to choose only one thing – what you choose that makes you most proud to say that you work at NIACC?
I would say that I am most proud of being able to work with students each day that want to learn mathematics and also working with staff that want to make a difference in the lives of students. I am so proud of the history that NIACC has built around the importance of student success. This is what makes NIACC a great place to be.
5 years
John Alden
Thomas Curtis
What do you look forward to at work every day?
Just being around the students and working with a great staff.
Lindsay Dalrymple
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I can honestly say the thing I look forward to about work every day is getting to work with and learn from my amazing team. I’m really blessed to be working somewhere that it feels like I get to see my family every day (even if I’m only seeing them virtually right now).
Patti Hanson
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I look forward to spending time with my NIACC family and learning something new every day!
Mike Julsen
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I look forward to working with my coworkers and making sure that all the customers’ needs are met.
Erica McBride
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I most look forward to the social and personal connections I make while at work. Now more than ever, I appreciate the interactions with those I work with every day and the students we serve. I am grateful for the opportunities NIACC has offered me and my family, and I am excited to assist in the effort to create a positive student experience.
Joel Morrical
What do you look forward to at work every day?
Seeing my students and hearing them laugh.
Andrea Mujica
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I enjoy working. I was raised in a family that taught me to always do your best, do it right, work hard, and follow the rules. I am a relationship person. I am very competitive and I like success. I want success for the College, the Foundation, any committee that I serve, our students, and my teammates. This is what makes me look forward to work every day, using my skill set to help others succeed.
Mara Ouverson
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I cannot believe it has been 5 years already! I still have so much to learn!
During this time of virus mitigation I miss driving onto the NIACC campus as the sun is just rising. The beautiful view always reminded that each day our students need new opportunities to learn skills to achieve their dreams. At times I am astonished that I get to be a part of their life adventures! I don't take that privilege for granted.
I also miss being with my co-workers. The NIACC family invited me in 5 years ago. I have never worked with a more supportive group of folks. I am especially grateful to my colleagues in the Learning Support Division. These people are stellar educators, dedicated to the success of every NIACC student who will reach out for help. They have always unselfishly supported me. I am honored to belong to this tribe, and challenged to follow their lead! (I am still the new kid on the block in this division.)
I have been extended opportunities to be involved in Diversity Committee, Common Read, Health Challenges, and the NIACC Center of Performing Arts, among many others. I am blessed with the richness of experiences NIACC has offered me. I only hope my contributions bring value to NIACC's mission.
Thanks for giving me the chance to remember all that NIACC has given me! I am so glad to be here, even if it is virtually at the moment.
Heather Rissler
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I look forward to seeing our students every day and knowing that every person working at NIACC is working together to help our students succeed.
Jennifer Ryan
What do you look forward to at work every day?
Seeing all of my coworkers and working with them to help students.
Dennis Salz
What do you look forward to at work every day?
Probably talking to the students about what is going on in their lives. What stupid, but funny stuff they do or think of. Next would be the staff I work with. The other instructors are awesome and I can't do my job without them.
Mike Thompson
What do you look forward to at work every day?
The best part of my day is working with students.
Jeremy Winters
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I look forward to going into work and seeing other staff and students. I like to have strong relationships with students and staff. I look forward to learning new things every day. At NIACC, I feel I am consistently learning from peers and students.
Brian Wogen
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I look forward to interacting with great people every day. My position allows me to work with almost every department at NIACC and 19 different high schools. I get to work with different people every day and every one of them is dedicated to doing what is best for our students.
Valerie Zahorski-Schmidt
What do you look forward to at work every day?
I love the friendliness of my coworkers and our students. A quick walk down the hall is always filled with smiles and hellos (when we’re all on campus, of course). People genuinely care about you and want to know how you’re doing. I enjoy the fact that my job allows me to work on a huge variety of projects – it never gets boring! I appreciate that I have the freedom and support to try new things and change things up occasionally. Also, I work with the BEST team! They are amazing people and it’s a joy to work with them every day. I can’t believe it’s been five years already!