Richard Nelson

The Nicolet College Board of Trustees has started the search for a new president to lead the college following the recent announcement that current president Richard Nelson plans to retire this coming summer.

At its October meeting, the board voted to form a four-member committee to guide the transition process.

“Dr. Nelson and the Executive Leadership Team he has assembled have done a tremendous job in advancing higher education at Nicolet College while practicing responsible fiscal management,” said Sharon Nielsen, chair of the Nicolet College Board of Trustees.

“Our goal now is to keep that momentum going and select the next president of Nicolet College who can provide the high level of visionary advancement and impeccable leadership the college has enjoyed under Dr. Nelson over the past five-plus years.”

After considering a variety of search strategies, the board voted to open the search at the moment to internal candidates only.

Nielsen explained the reasoning for this was that the board was pleased with the direction current leadership is taking the college and it wanted to maintain the continuity of the collective leadership currently in place to continue advancing the college, and the desire to promote from within the employee pool whenever possible.

An added factor was the disruption the COVID-19 pandemic is having across the nation on many levels, including executive searches.

“The hiring of the college president is one of the most important duties the board is charged with,” she said. “And after substantial discussion about multiple options for a presidential search, we determined that this is the best course.

Nielsen also stressed that if the internal search did not yield a suitable and viable candidate, the board was ready to move swiftly and launch a national search.

The board anticipates concluding the process in January 2021.

The board will also follow traditional and accepted executive-level vetting and selection practices, including the opportunity for members of the general public and Nicolet staff to meet with candidates in an open forum.

More information about the search and application process will be posted on the Nicolet website in the near future.