Dear EICC Community,

As we begin the spring semester, I want to thank each of you for the work you do every day in support of our students and our colleges. This is an important time of year, and I am grateful for your continued commitment to our mission and to each other.

As I shared during start-up, I am making a few structural changes within the senior leadership team to ensure we are best positioned to support our students, our colleges, and our communities.

As part of these changes, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Naomi DeWinter for her dedicated service as Vice Chancellor of Student Services. Her leadership during the COVID years helped the college identify and expand critical student support services, including food pantries and access to mental health counseling.

I also want to thank Dr. Brian Kelly for his service as Vice Chancellor of Strategy and Planning. His leadership was instrumental in developing and advancing the college’s strategic plan, which now serves as our framework for focus, decision making, and priorities across the district.

As we move forward, Dr. DeWinter and Dr. Kelly, along with Ann Lawler, will continue to serve the colleges in their roles as campus presidents. This approach allows each of them to lead where their strengths have the greatest impact by deepening relationships across our counties, strengthening community partnerships, advancing philanthropy, and serving as visible champions for their campuses and the students they serve.

With this transition, I am opening the search for a new Vice Chancellor of Student Services. This role is central to the student experience across our colleges and will provide leadership and coordination for student services districtwide.

The listening session schedule below represents the first step in this process. I have asked Ann Lawler and Erin Snyder to co-chair the hiring team, and they will be leading these listening sessions to hear directly from those closest to the work. These conversations will help shape the leadership qualities, experience, and focus areas we are seeking. Additional details about the hiring timeline, committee involvement, and campus finalist forums will follow.

Listening Sessions - Vice Chancellor of Student Services:

January 26 – Scott Community College, Campus Events Center 

•   1:30 – 2:30 p.m. 

•   3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

January 27 – Muscatine Community College, Strahan 27

•   1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

January 27 – Zoom 

•   3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

February 2 – Clinton Community College, Room 139 

•   9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our students and for your engagement as we move forward together.

Bryan Renfro, PhD
Chancellor
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
101 West Third Street, Davenport
563-336-3301