By Stephen Cook
College president Joe Sopcich may be in a new position, but he is not new to the college. Sopcich first started at the college in October of 1992 and has served in a number of roles before becoming elected college president in May earlier this year.
In addition to his role as college president, Sopcich also continues his role as a teacher this semester. His class, BUS 121, Introduction to Business, meets on Monday evenings.
“My favorite part about teaching is learning about the students’ lives and recognizing that these students have incredibly busy lives and some of the students are dealing with incredible adversity and how they’re dealing with that.” Sopcich said. “It’s always so impressive to me that they have the determination and the grit to stick with it.”
Additionally, Sopcich said teaching allows him to experience what the faculty experiences. Through receiving student feedback, he is also able to see how the college operates from that perspective.
At the age of 45, Sopcich went back to school, graduating at 50 with a PhD in higher education administration and leadership from the University of Kansas.
“The role that education’s played in my life is critical,” Sopcich said.
Years ago, after graduating from undergrad school, Sopcich said he couldn’t get a job. So he went back to school to get an MBA. He then got a job in Chicago in advertising.
Sopcich has worked a variety of jobs, not just at the college but in several different fields. Having been in fields ranging from education to advertising to sewage, Sopcich said everything makes a difference.
“All that stuff adds up, it all creates a network of experiences and background that influences how you look at things,” Sopcich said.
Looking ahead to this semester, Sopcich has certain goals he wants to see accomplished.
The first component of his plan is the announcement of some Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
“Key Performance Indicators are very important to our accreditation process and how we introduce ourselves to the state,” Sopcich said. “Hopefully it’ll elevate our performance across many areas that will ultimately benefit the students.”
Also, a “facelift” will be made to the college’s strategic plan, since it has been about five or six years since the last update, according to Sopcich. The changes to the plan will be tied together with the KPIs.
“We’re also going to take a pretty good step back and kind of reassess our budget and where we’re at and where we need to go,” Sopcich said.
Jerry Cook, Board of Trustees chair, said the challenges facing Sopcich this semester, both at the college and in the community, are accelerated compared to times in the past. However, Cook believes this is a great opportunity.
“I believe that Dr. Sopcich is a relationship builder, and I believe that’s critical in today’s world,” Cook said. “I believe he’s got a personality that is going to really assist him in having people get to know him and he getting to know people.”
Elliot Rogers, president of Student Senate, said the group is hoping to have an open door policy in their communication with Sopcich.
“We really want to keep information going back and forth; we want to have as much communication as possible with him,” Rogers said.
Also, Rogers views this as a fresh start for both himself and Sopcich, both being new presidents in their respective positions.
“I actually feel this is a bit of a unique advantage in me coming into office here, because not only am I a brand new president, but I get to step in alongside of a brand new faculty president,” Rogers said. “Neither of us have any customs, as it were, in how we’re going to run our positions.”
From a student level, Rogers said Sopcich has been willing to communicate.
“He’s showing us, demonstrating every time we meet with him just how much he wants to be a part of our experience as students,” Rogers said.
Deb Williams, president of the faculty association, said Sopcich has been great about welcoming opportunities to meet with faculty during this initial process.
“We have been very pleased that President Sopcich has been very transparent with a lot of different items, including the budget,” Williams said. “He is really making great strides to involve faculty in the input process and requesting feedback to a lot of initiatives that he has already set forth.”
William also said he has really “hit the ground running” and described his changes as “pretty significant”, given the short period of time he has been in office.
Working now and through the semester, Sopcich said probably his biggest challenge is the demand on his time.
“The demands on one’s time is pretty critical,” Sopcich said. “One of Dr. Calaway’s pieces of advice to me was about the importance of maintaining a good balance in managing your schedule and he’s right.”
To relax, Sopcich enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife whom he’s been married to for 26 years, as well as following college football and running.
Sopcich’s focus is on being successful in accomplishing his goals this year, in the end benefiting students.
“It’s a real honor and privilege to be in this position,” Sopcich said. “I’ve been kind of overwhelmed with the response I’ve received from members of the community and even internally. So you can never take that responsibility too lightly.”
Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.