Joyce Helens named finalist for Great Basin College presidency
April 26, 2017

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Joyce Helens
ELKO, Nev. -- After completing a nationwide search, the ad hoc GBC President Search Committee and the Advisory Committee today have recommended Joyce Helens as the sole finalist to serve as the next president of Great Basin College. Helens was selected following campus visits this week and face-to-face interviews held today with the committees.

The Board of Regents will vote on the recommendation and contract terms during a special meeting on April 27.

"I am pleased to recommend Joyce Helens to the full Board of Regents tomorrow as the next president of Great Basin College," said Regent Sam Lieberman, chair of the ad hoc GBC President Search Committee. "On behalf of our search committee members, we believe she will continue the trend of outstanding leadership at the college. She has the right skills, experience, and vision to work with the students, faculty, and the many communities GBC serves."

Joyce Helens (curriculum vitae) has both broad and deep higher education leadership experience in multi-state two-year colleges and universities. Since 2006, Helens has enjoyed success in the MinnState System as president of St. Cloud Technical and Community College, where she has built a nationally recognized comprehensive community and technical college with increased enrollment, new and renovated programs and facilities, and a successful college re-accreditation.

She obtained a baccalaureate degree from St. Martin's University in Washington State and her Master's Degree from Portland State University where she also completed her doctoral coursework. Before coming to Minnesota, Helens was at the University of Alaska Statewide System holding leadership positions at the University of Alaska Anchorage Community & Technical College and then as Executive Director of the University of Alaska Corporate Programs, where she created a Corporate University within an academic university system to respond to the education and training needs of Alaska business and industry. 

Helens also served in senior and executive community college leadership positions in Oregon, Texas and Washington.

The ad hoc GBC Search Committee is chaired by Regent Sam Lieberman and includes regents Dr. Andrea Anderson, Carol Del Carlo, Dr. Jason Geddes, Cathy McAdoo, and Allison Stephens. 

Advisory members to the committee include: Gerald Ackerman, Cristian Apolinar, Pam Borda, Lisa Campbell, Mary Doucette, Dr. Jonathan Foster, Hon. Chris Johnson, Matt McCarty, Katie McConnell, Kevin Melcher, Bret Murphy, Katie Neddenriep, Rick Palagi, Michelle Phay, Ben Reed, Dave Roden, Sonja Sibert, Dr. Laura Walsh, Norm Whittaker, Tim Wichersham, Jim Winer, Mardell Wilkins, and Jeff Zander. 

About Great Basin College
Great Basin College is a regionally accredited comprehensive residential college, offering certificate, associate and baccalaureate level education. Meeting and sustaining workforce needs is at the forefront of its strategies as it continues to fulfill its mission to serve rural Nevada. The main campus is located in Elko, Nevada. Branch locations are located in Battle Mountain, Ely, Pahrump and Winnemucca, as well as over a dozen satellite facilities across the state. A pioneer in distance education, as well as online delivery, GBC is now offering 30 certificate and degree programs that are available completely online.


About the Nevada System of Higher Education
The Nevada System of Higher Education -- comprised of two doctoral-granting universities, a state college, four comprehensive community colleges and one environmental research institute -- serves the educational and job training needs of Nevada. NSHE provides educational opportunities to nearly 107,600 students and is governed by the Nevada Board of Regents.

Contact:
John Kuhlman, (702) 889-8426