Powell named new VP of academic affairs

It started with a group of 24 resumes.  

The number then dropped to three. Now, as the semester comes to an end, only one remains. After months of looking over candidates’ qualifications, overseeing forums and conducting interviews, the decision has been made as to who will fill current Vice President of Academic Affairs Charles Snare’s shoes after his retirement on Jan. 10, 2020.  

It was announced on Tuesday that Dr. James Powell, the current dean of the school of professional studies and applied sciences, would be taking over as the new VPAA starting in the spring 2020 semester.  

“The goal is to get the person who is going to be the best fit for the job at this point in time,” President Randy Rhine said.  So, that’s probably the main driving force in making that decision. I think we had some good choices and I think we had some great candidates. In the end, it felt like Dr. Powell could do the best job.” 

Rhine believes Powell will bring a fresh perspective to the position.  

“He has been here long enough to know us pretty well, so I think he understands where we have some opportunities and where we have some weaknesses that we need to address,” Rhine said.  

Powell expressed genuine enthusiasm about taking over the position from Dr. Snare.  

“I’m really excited because the people here are fantastic and the five years I’ve been here working with the students and the faculty and the staff have just been awesome. I think this next bit will be just as good.”   

Because he is already a faculty member on campus, Powell’s selection will leave the position of dean of the school of professional studies and applied sciences vacant.  While there is no definite plan at this time for who his replacement will be, the process to find one will begin shortly after he begins his new position.  

“The first thing that will happen is that we will name an interim, and that will probably be an internal person that we’ll put into and interim role, and then we will decide when and what time of search we would conduct for a full time replacement,” Rhine said.  

Rhine has high hopes for Powell and is looking forward to the future ideas he has to offer to the college.  

“I would expect him to hit the ground running. I think he has some ideas about opportunities for our students and learning opportunities from them that will be exciting to see how he approaches all that,” Rhine said.   

Powell will begin training alongside Snare to learn every aspect of his new position and ensure that the projects started this year will continue to run smoothly during the transition.

The one thing Powell said he highlighted throughout his interview process and wants to work on once he fills the position, is continued professional development for faculty and staff.  

“If we are going to address student’s needs into the future, we just need to be sure that we are all up to date and prepared for that,”  Powell said.  

While there wasn’t a specific thing that he was looking forward to the most about the new position, Powell said there is one thing he dreads: reading the names at graduation.  

“Having survived it once I can say, ‘well I can do that again.’” 

 Before coming to Chadron in 2015, Powell served four years as the professor and director of the school of education, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, 2012-15. From 2006-12, he served as a professor and chair of teaching and learning department, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska.  

He served as an assistant professor at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 1993-2006. From 1986-1989 he served as an instructor of J.H. English, University school, Indiana State University, Terri Haute, Indiana.  

He then served as the executive director at the National Executive Housekeepers Association, Westerville, Ohio, 1985-1986. From 1981-1985 he was membership and continuing education director for Indiana CPA Society, Indianapolis.  He started his career as an English teacher in Logansport, Indiana, from 1975-1981.  

Powell said that he enjoys working with the faculty and staff at CSC and is ready to continue that work in the string semester.

“I love coming to work every day and I look forward to continuing to get to do that every day.”