Second vice president to leave NWC this spring Northwest College got another blow last week when Dana Young, vice president for student affairs, accepted the position as president of Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) in Ontario, Ore. As of Saturday, Young and TVCC representatives were negotiating her contract.

Young said the opportunity was a dream come true.

“It is a perfect fit for me, as I am from eastern Oregon, having graduated ... from Baker High School in Oregon in 1978. It is like a homecoming,” she wrote in an e-mail.

In addition, “Becoming a community college president has been a goal and dream of mine since I began working on my doctoral degree in 2006.

“I am elated to become the next president of TVCC. I take the helm on July 1. TVCC has huge potential for sustainable growth. I am honored to have been chosen for this important role and look forward to guiding the institution toward positive, progressive, strategic and sustainable growth ...

“Like NWC, Treasure Valley CC has great community support. This is so important,” she said.

NWC President Paul Prestwich said Monday that Young kept him advised of her application to Treasure Valley Community College and her progress in the selection process.

“Dana has kept me informed, and she has been great to work with,” he said. “When this position came open, it was a perfect match with her goals and skills.

“This is a great opportunity for her and her family and extended family as well. That's her home turf.”

The college also is losing Sher Hruska, vice president for academic services, who accepted a job in March as vice president for learning at San Juan College in Farmington, N.M.

Prestwich said Bob Krenz, chairman of the physical sciences division, has agreed to fill Hruska's position on an interim basis next year. A formal search for a permanent replacement will begin in spring 2011.

A similar arrangement will be made to fill Young's position for the coming year, he said. As of Monday, Prestwich said he didn't know who would fill Young's shoes yet.

“It's somewhat unusual to have two vice presidencies vacated so close to one another,” Prestwich said.

There are four vice president positions at Northwest College.

He said the double vacancy, while a challenge, also provides an opportunity to examine the college's leadership structure.

“One option I'm going to consider is having one vice president over both academic and student services, sometimes called a provost,” he said.

Prestwich said he has worked at colleges with both types of management structure.

But, before he makes any decisions in that regard, Prestwich said he will consult with faculty, staff and students about the possibility.

“If there's not much support, then we will stay with the current system, one vice president over each area.”

Combining the two position has potentially could save some money for the college, but that would depend on the management structure underneath that position, he added.

“We need to have some discussions about that, and I would like some input from some of the key faculty and staff in both areas — also ideas from them,” Prestwich said. “We may come back to exactly where we are, and if we do, that's fine.”

Young said she will miss her friends and peers at Northwest College.

“It has been a great place to work,” she said. “I have grown and learned so much from my seven years of serving NWC. Thank you to everyone at NWC for your love and support.”