The Northern Wyoming Community College District will soon begin its search for a new vice president of student affairs.
Leah Barrett will be leaving her post in northern Wyoming to take over as president of Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska in January. Barrett has been with the district for about three and a half years.
She said working on attainment-making sure students get degrees and are able to move on to four-year colleges-and creating more options for adult learners as a vice president are concepts that she will be able to use as she takes on a new role.
"I think my experience and the work I've been doing in that area will complement the work that we need to do at Northeast Community College," she said.
One of her biggest points of pride is the opening of the Multicultural Center at Sheridan College this fall.
Barrett said she learned a lot about leadership during her time as one of the district's vice presidents, and that she is excited to take on her new role.
"The role of community college president really requires you to build relationships with your community, with industries, with people in the state as you ensure, especially in a place like Norfolk or a place like Sheridan or Gillette. You really want to contribute to the vitality of your community," she said.
Barrett is originally from Newcastle and attended the University of Wyoming.
"I feel so proud becoming a president, and I contribute it to growing up in Wyoming and my great education at the University of Wyoming," she said.
The district will announce a nationwide search to find her replacement in the coming weeks.
Have a question about this story? Contact the reporter, Catherine Wheeler, at cwheel11@uwyo.edu.