Community invited to new president reception

Jan 7, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College invites the community to meet its 11th president, Nick Nissley, at a welcome reception from 5–7 p.m. Friday Jan. 17, at the Hagerty Center at NMC’s Great Lakes campus.

Nissley, an education executive with more than 25 years of experience, says there’s no place he’d rather be than NMC. While his first day in the office was Jan. 2,  Nissley said he’s been doing his homework on the college since his contract was finalized in October 2019.

“It’s obvious to me, NMC is a strong college in a strong community – it has a proud history and a future of possibilities,” he said. “Being here at NMC is a calling. It’s a calling for me to share my strengths.”

Those strengths are broad and diverse. Nissley’s career includes experience in K-12, community college and university settings. He has leadership experience in fundraising, professional development, human resources, teaching and the arts. His areas of focus include helping build individual and organization capabilities that support organizational effectiveness and innovation cultures in support of educational excellence.  Nissley describes himself as a collaborative servant leader and “possibilitarian.”

“I believe in NMC’s role that we have played historically, and that we must imagine together as we look to the future – our role in improving the lives of people and strengthening the fabric of our community. Together, let’s be driven to think and act beyond boundaries, and to achieve more than was originally imagined. That’s the possibilitarian spirit of NMC,” he said.

RSVPs are not required and there is no cost to attend the reception, which will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

Nissley’s most recent position was Executive Director of Cincinnati’s School for Creative & Performing Arts (SCPA) — the first K-12 public creative and performing arts magnet school in the country, recognized as a model magnet arts school and a crown jewel of Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS). He previously served as Dean of the Business Division of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, one of Ohio’s largest community colleges.

Release date: January 7, 2019

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

Success Story: Two TC students forge forward this fall

Dec 19, 2018 | Intercom, Student News

December 19, 2018

NMC seeks to help each student achieve their personal definition of success. As the fall 2018 semester concludes, enjoy a tale of two very diverse students, each succeeding in her own way.

This semester, on the heels of an internship in Seattle and a study-abroad trip to Italy, Maria Leggett, 27, completed the requirements for her culinary degree and co-founded a student group, all while working in two Traverse City restaurants.

She’s come a long way since she first enrolled, after graduating from Traverse City West High School in 2010. Then she studied business, but found it wasn’t for her. Leggett left and tried a range of jobs — factory work, banking, and the food industry. After three years she decided to give college a second try, re-enrolling in fall 2016. Her passion for food led her to the Great Lakes Culinary Institute.

She’s most proud of the student group, Spoonful of Foodies, which works to spread Traverse City’s “super foodie town” culture to the college, working with the food pantry to offer cooking demonstrations.

“Simple recipes that college students who have limited equipment can prepare,” Leggett said. “Some students just don’t know how to cook.”

While she clearly does, Leggett says she loves learning and plans to go on a second study abroad trip to Italy in the spring, while continuing to work at Trattoria Stella and The Good Bowl. Eventually she’d like to combine ethnic cuisines and work in a fusion-style kitchen.

Hannah Krohn, 20, is also a Traverse City native, graduating from Grand Traverse Academy in 2017. She maintains a 4.0 grade point average, serves on NMC Student Government, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society, and three other college groups, all while managing severe dyslexia.

This semester, her class in Western Civilization helped Krohn to enhance and refine a language of symbols and color coding that she uses to compensate for poor reading fluency of traditional, written text. Her textbooks are audio and tests are read aloud, but her original language is key to effective studying.

“It’s the semester when I’m feeling the impact,” of the effort she’s put forth since enrolling in fall 2017, Krohn said. The Writing and Reading Center helped her create a resume that earned her a summer job as a behavioral technician, working with autistic children.

Her 4.0 GPA notwithstanding, her proudest achievement is the independent study in ceramics that she was approved for this semester. Post-graduation in 2020, she’d like to use her sculpting skills working as an installer for three-dimensional pieces in aquariums and museums.

In the meantime, she loves NMC.

“I really like the environment. There’s a small community and they’re very accepting here,” Krohn said.

New degrees approved

Dec 18, 2018 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — New degrees in culinary sales and surveying will be offered beginning with the fall 2019 semester after unanimous approval by NMC’s Board of Trustees Monday.

Both associate in applied science degrees are intended to offer additional employment options to students post-graduation.

The culinary sales degree includes culinary and general business courses already offered at NMC. It will expand upon the college’s current restaurant-focused culinary offerings and prepare students to work in food and beverage sales and marketing departments.

“As the popularity of specialty foods grows, so does the demand for education and training. It is envisioned that this program would serve to define NMC as a regional leader in this area,” said Stephen Siciliano, vice president for academic affairs.

The surveying degree complements existing training in marine technology and unmanned aerial systems. NMC offers the only bachelor’s degree in marine technology in the nation and has gone from being an early adopter in UAS training to an industry leader.

“With the addition of this degree, NMC will have a comprehensive pathway from degree through professional development in the platform triad of marine, air, land – unique among community colleges nationally,” said Marguerite Cotto, vice president for lifelong and professional learning.

Registration for fall semester classes begins March 13, 2019.

Release date: December 18, 2018

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communication
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

Digitizing the White Pine Press

Dec 17, 2018 | Intercom, Student News

The library has now scanned and uploaded the White Pine Press through 2007. They are available from the library’s A-Z List of Resources page at nmc.edu/library/a-z-resource.html or from the Alumni Libguide at nmc.libguides.com/alumni/welcome.

New Books at the Library

Dec 17, 2018 | Intercom, Student News

The library has purchased many new books so far this year. You can view a handful here along with partial descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.

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