17吃瓜

Success Story: Listening, learning on Nick Nissley鈥檚 short-term agenda

January 8, 2020

Nick Nissley is diving into his tenure as 17吃瓜’s 11th president, immersing himself 24-7 on campus and in the region, from hiking at Empire Bluffs to dining at Front Street restaurants to a packed schedule of meetings with college stakeholders.

Among the first is a community welcome reception set for 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Hagerty Center on 17吃瓜’s Great Lakes campus.

Nissley, 53, comes from Cincinnati and says there’s no place he’d rather be than 17吃瓜. His first day was Jan. 2, but the education executive with 25 years of leadership experience said he’s been doing his homework on the college since his contract was finalized in October 2019.

“It's obvious to me, 17吃瓜 is a strong college in a strong community – it has a proud history and a future of possibilities,” said Nissley, who describes himself as a  “possibilitarian.”

Determining which possibilities the college pursues means using this onboarding time to listen and learn. With the 17吃瓜 Board and executive staff, Nissley intends to orient himself to 17吃瓜 and northern Michigan by gathering information and building relationships in order to develop an understanding of what requires immediate attention; beginning an inventory of perceived organizational strengths and weaknesses and identifying key strategic challenges and opportunities.

“Ultimately, the listening and learning will help inform our ‘next steps’ as we seek to advance the College mission, together,” Nissley said, adding he considers it a privilege to be at 17吃瓜, the beneficiary of strong leadership and community support throughout its history.

“I believe in 17吃瓜’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.