As we prepare for Dr. Brian Kelly’s departure from Clinton this Friday, October 23, I want to share how we plan to move forward and ensure our students, faculty, staff, and community partners continue to have the leadership and support they need.

Transitions are a natural part of any organization, but they also give us an opportunity to look at how we work, what we need, and how we can do better. Our priority right now is simple: keep Clinton moving forward while taking the time to thoughtfully consider its future leadership structure.

Beginning Monday, October 26, members of our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will rotate through Clinton Community College, providing an on-campus leadership presence every working day.

Rather than immediately appointing an interim president, we're taking a team approach. Each SLT member will bring expertise in academic affairs, student services, finance, facilities, workforce development, human resources, and communications. I'll also be spending time at Clinton each week, and our full SLT will meet on campus every other Tuesday.

This approach allows us to remain connected to the daily work of the college, support our employees, maintain important community relationships, and address issues as they arise.

Most importantly, our Clinton colleagues will have access to leadership, guidance, and support throughout the transition. We want to be present, accessible, and engaged.

Over these next 90 days, we'll also take a closer look at the leadership needs of the Clinton campus and centers and how they fit within our broader EICC structure.

We'll evaluate the responsibilities of the president's position and consider several options for the future. Those could include a search for a new president, an interim appointment, or a different leadership model.

An important part of this process will be hearing from the people who know Clinton best. As we move through the transition, we'll seek input from faculty, staff, and community stakeholders to help us understand what is working well, where opportunities exist, and what leadership structure will best support the college moving forward. Those perspectives will play an important role in shaping our recommendations.

Our goal is to bring a recommendation to the Board of Trustees in January.

I want to emphasize we're not entering this process with a predetermined outcome. We're going to listen, learn, and make a thoughtful decision based on what best serves our students, employees, and communities.

Change can bring uncertainty, and I recognize leadership transitions create questions, especially for those working most closely with the departing leader. But I also see an opportunity for us to demonstrate what it means to be one EICC.

Clinton has a strong team, important community partnerships, and a proud history of serving students. None of those things change with the departure of a president. Our responsibility is to build on those strengths and make sure our people have what they need to succeed.

I appreciate the flexibility, professionalism, and commitment of our Clinton colleagues as we work through this transition. And I appreciate our district leadership team for stepping forward to provide additional support.

We'll continue sharing updates as plans develop, and I encourage you to bring forward questions, concerns, and ideas along the way.

Our mission doesn't pause during a transition. We keep serving students, supporting one another, and finding ways to do better.