North Idaho College president to retire in 2016

North Idaho College President Joe Dunlap plans to retire at the end of the academic year, the community college in Coeur d’Alene said Tuesday.

The former president of Spokane Community College in Spokane, Dunlap has served as president of NIC since July 1, 2012. He replaced Priscilla Bell after she retired.

“I’ve loved working here at NIC and being a part of an incredible team that is highly engaged with our students, staff, faculty and communities,” he said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

Ken Howard, chairman of the NIC Board of Trustees, said in a news release, “At a time when colleges through the region and country are in a survival mindset, Joe has led an aggressive vision to move NIC into a position that will serve our students and community for decades to come.”

Dunlap has overseen the establishment of 17 new technical education programs at NIC. Also, three building projects are underway, including the 110,000-square-foot Career and Technical Education Facility in Rathdrum that will open next August. Construction on a student wellness and recreation center is set to begin next summer, and in 2017 the college will join with Lewis-Clark State College and the University of Idaho to build a joint student services, classroom and office building.

Dunlap said he wants to spend more time with his family, including five young grandchildren. He will stay on through June 30.

The board soon will start searching for NIC’s 10th president.