{"id":1807,"date":"2025-04-16T15:45:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/?p=1807"},"modified":"2025-04-16T15:45:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:45:23","slug":"what-jccc-is-looking-for-in-the-next-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/2025\/04\/16\/what-jccc-is-looking-for-in-the-next-president\/","title":{"rendered":"What JCCC Is Looking For In The Next President"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Tony Miksa speaking to students at the open forum on Wednesday, Feb. 19. (Photo by: Yan Luciano Arantes Dornelos Souza)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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We reported on <\/span>March 13<\/span><\/a> that Dr. Tony Miksa will soon become Johnson County Community College\u2019s new president, taking over from Interim President Dr. Judy Korb, who had been in the position since Jan. 2, 2024. <\/span>As we are getting closer to Dr. Miksa assuming his functions on July 1, we asked JCCC students, teachers, and administration what they want from the upcoming president.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In majority, students told us that they want the new president to keep what makes JCCC \u2026 JCCC. <\/span>For Mary D\u2019Arcy, a nursing major, she hopes that the new president will maintain JCCC\u2019s culture.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like how the college is, and I hope that the new president keeps the culture the same with the vibrant community and friends all around,\u201d D\u2019Arcy said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cooper Daneke, an economics major, agrees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like all the study spaces, as well as the people and how friendly they are,\u201d Daneke said. \u201cLike whenever I talk to anybody, they’re always open and nice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Logan Schaefer, a business major, wants the college to build on what it is to become an even bigger part of the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really hope [Dr. Miksa is] able to build on JCCC\u2019s amazing reputation as one the best community colleges,\u201d Schaefer said. \u201cI would like for him to have clear communication to the student body and see more ways the college could be involved with the community.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He also wants the college to stay affordable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that tuition doesn\u2019t drastically increase either,\u201d Schaefer added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Schaefer does not want some things to change, other students had a few suggestions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Michael Taylor, a student in liberal arts, wants a change to the attendance policy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe new president should have an improved attendance policy,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cBecause the first thing in most syllabus\u2019, it says that if you don’t attend your classes, you get dropped by Friday, and I feel that’s unfair for some of those that weren\u2019t able to make it on Monday or they weren’t able to go the first week of school, but they still want to attend those classes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For Desiree Odum, who is majoring in nursing, she hopes that the new president will bring some novelty to the college.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I would want from the new president is to have more programs here at the college,\u201d Odum said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Raja Harris, a nursing major as well, wants novelty in the food options and has a very specific demand regarding a health program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would want them to get better food options, as well as the radiology tech program,\u201d Harris said. \u201cBecause there should be no reason that there is one junior college that has that program with so many people wanting to get into that program. It’s very demanding right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

We also tried to talk with teachers, to see what members of the faculty want from President Miksa. Dr. Marcus P. Williamson, an American National Government teacher, is excited about Dr. Miksa\u2019s arrival.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe faculty are looking forward to working with Dr. Miksa at JCCC,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cHis impressive resume is a great fit for our community. We are excited for the leadership President Miksa brings to the table, and know that he will be a great asset in continuing the college\u2019s goals of community building, inspiring student learning, and success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another teacher who wishes to remain anonymous just shared with us that they hope that the new president \u201cwill listen to faculty.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, we talked with Chris Gray, JCCC\u2019s Vice President, Strategic Communications & Marketing, to know what the college wants from Dr. Miksa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the \u2018college\u2019, three main areas were identified as a focus during this search process; first would be setting a vision, second creating a positive campus culture (for both students and employees) and third would be engaging with the external community and campus,\u201d Gray said. \u201cThese three points were identified through input from the campus (students, faculty, staff) and the broader community through the work of the search committee and assistance by Academic Search, the selected firm chosen to help lead these efforts. I believe everyone is excited for Dr. Miksa\u2019s arrival and start July 1, and looking forward to what he will bring to campus with his leadership and energy he demonstrated during his interviews for this position.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Piggybacking on what Gray said, Shelli Allen, VP of Student Success & Engagement simply told us: \u201cIn short, we\u2019re excited!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Tony Miksa will assume his functions on July 1.\u00a0<\/span>For more student statements, check out our video on Instagram.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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