Semifinalists for President of Normandale Community College Named

Joyce Ester was the president of Kennedy-King College, one of seven colleges within the City Colleges of Chicago district, from 2011 until 2013. Previously, she served as associate vice president for student services at Bakersfield College (CA) from 2010 to 2011, as assistant vice president for judicial affairs and division planning at California State University from 2007 to 2010, and as assistant dean of students/judicial affairs at the University of California from 1995 to 2007. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She will visit the Normandale campus on April 30.

Dale Nesbary has served as president of Muskegon Community College since 2009. Previously, he served as vice president and dean for academic affairs at Adrian College (MI) from 2006 to 2009, as director of the master of public administration program at Oakland University from 2001 to 2006, and as assistant/associate professor in the department of political science at Oakland University from 1994 to 2006. Prior to 1994, he held multiple leadership and analytic positions outside of academia, serving as research/technical services director with the Boston Police Department, assistant director with the City of Boston Office of Budget and Program Evaluation, principal staff associate with the National Conference of State Legislatures, and fiscal analyst with the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and anthropology from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University, and a doctorate in law, policy, and society from Northeastern University. He will visit the Normandale campus on April 29.

Shari Olson has been the president at South Mountain Community College (AZ) since 2011. Previously, she served as interim president at Anoka Technical College from 2010 to 2011, as system director of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities from 2009 to 2010, as president at Eastern Wyoming College from 2007 to 2008, and in several capacities at Northland Community and Technical College from 1995 to 2007. She has served on the faculty at Bemidji State University and United Tribes Technical College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and a master’s degree in education from North Dakota State University and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of North Dakota. She will visit the Normandale campus
on April 28.

Beverly Walker-Griffea has been the senior vice president for student services at Montgomery College (MD) since 2011. Previously, she was vice president for student affairs at Thomas Nelson Community College (VA) from 2006 to 2011, dean of student development at the Houston Community College System from 2001 to 2006, and interim dean of instruction for health and environmental sciences at Spokane Community College from 2000 to 2001. She holds a bachelor’s degree in radio television and film: news and public affairs from Oklahoma State University, a master’s degree in education from Virginia State University, and a doctorate in child development from Texas Woman’s University. She will visit the Normandale campus on May 1.