Northwest State Community College Board of Trustees extends president’s contract early
Dr. Todd Hernandez, sitting president of Northwest State Community College, had his contract extended almost two years early by the Board of Trustees. His new contract is set to expire in 2027.
At a regular session at the Archbold Campus of Northwest State Community College, the Board of Trustees held a meeting at which they extended the contract of the school’s president, Dr. Todd Hernandez, early. His contract was initially set to expire on June 30, 2024, but will now expire on June 30, 2027.
Northwest State Community Community College Trustee President Lisa McClure was quoted by The Paulding County Progress on her opinion of Dr. Hernandez, saying, “He’s doing an exceptional job in moving the College forward. We could not be more happy with his leadership.”
This comes on the heels of more good news for Dr. Hernandez as he was recently awarded a fellowship by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. The Aspen New President's Fellowship is awarded to community college presidents who are in the early years of their tenure. The program is funded by JPMorgan Chase.
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit that aims to help build a more equitable society by funding and developing talent, holding seminars, policy programs, conferences, and more. The institute started in 1949 and has 15 locations around the world, including locations in Europe, Asia, and New Zealand.
Dr. Hernandez is one of 26 leaders selected for the program. The competitive selection process accepted a diverse group of leaders from 19 states with varied backgrounds and school sizes. The fellows will work over nine months to learn about how better to serve their schools.
John Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program, was quoted by the Fulton County Expositor on the program, stating, “The quality of our nation’s community colleges depends on the quality of our college presidents. I am continually inspired and motivated by the dedication and expertise that our fellows bring to the work of advancing excellence and equity on their campuses, and I look forward to seeing the changes they make in real time to improve outcomes for their students.”
Dr. Hernandez spoke on the fellowship, as well: “It is an honor to be selected to the Aspen program, and to broaden my education and experience with fellow community college presidents. Similar to a great NSCC education, I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience gained through this opportunity to my career with the College. I am excited to learn and grow both personally and professionally.”
Northwest State Community College offers classes in STEM and industrial technologies, nursing and allied health, business and public services, and the arts. According to the school’s website, the average total cost of acquiring an associates degree is only $14,000, with students taking on around seven credit hours per semester, which usually makes for only two class days a week.
Students interested in attending Northwest State Community College can visit the school’s admissions page.