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Starcevich Plans Kirkwood Retirement in June 2018

By January 17, 2017November 28th, 2018No Comments

Search for successor to begin in the coming months

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (January 17, 2017)-Kirkwood Community College President Mick Starcevich announced his intention to retire following the 2017-2018 academic year in a speech to faculty and staff on Tuesday. The nationwide search to find his successor is set to begin in the coming months.

Starcevich, the fourth president in Kirkwood’s history, has served in the role since 2005. During his tenure, the college has seen the highest enrollment in its 50-year history and significant increases in retention and graduation rates, all major points of emphasis for Starcevich throughout his time in office. The total dollar amount available for student scholarships also jumped from $740 thousand per year to nearly $3.1 million annually over his time as president. In addition, guided by his visionary leadership, the college completed multiple major construction projects including The Hotel at Kirkwood Center as well as four county regional centers, which save the families of the Corridor more than $5 million per year in college tuition.

According to Starcevich, presiding over one of the largest colleges in the state of Iowa has been an unforgettable experience.

“It has truly been an honor to serve as president of one of the greatest colleges in the world,” said Starcevich. “I’ve been thinking about this decision for some time, and I believe now the time is right for me, personally, and for the college. We have a great team and great students, and I feel that Kirkwood is well positioned for the future.”

The national search to find Starcevich’s successor will begin soon. Kirkwood will be contacting consultants to aid in the process of finding the most qualified candidate to fill the position. Details and a timeline of the search will be released to the public in the next few months.

Speaking from experience, Starcevich knows that the person selected to lead the college will not only help guide Kirkwood, but the entire Corridor as well.

“Kirkwood is an amazing institution where incredible things happen,” said Starcevich. “This place changes lives. Its massive impact has spread like a ripple effect from our graduates, to the rest of the Corridor, to the entire state and beyond. Kirkwood’s next president will lead the college well into the next 50 years. I see a great future for this college and the people it serves.”