TORRINGTON – Eastern Wyoming College presidential finalist Kelly B. McCalla of Austin, Minn. spoke and answered questions at an open public forum Monday at the Fine Arts Auditorium. During the event, he discussed the significance of community, connections and breaking barriers to help students take the first step toward higher education.
In his first 90 days as president, if selected, McCalla said he would actively pursue connections with the governing board, community members, college students, staff and faculty, alumni and local politicians.
“Community colleges exist because of communities,” he said. “School is part of our life and life is part of our schooling. I need to know why the students, faculty and staff chose EWC, what is working and what does
not work.”
Hailing from Minnesota, McCalla also expressed a desire to learn more about the state itself to “find the right fit” and spent much of the weekend visiting tourist destinations and speaking with residents.
“In talking to people, it seems clear to me that people care about the college and community … and that people work really hard, but they’re not really sure they’re getting ahead,” McCalla said. “Working hard is only part of it, but we all want to get ahead in life. Most people believe EWC is a fundamental tool in getting where they want to be and to get ahead.”
McCalla said he would attempt to understand and address EWC’s issues, including diversity challenges, fiscal pressures, student retention, success and completion, as well as work to honor academic students along with athletes in the college’s historical photo display.
As far as short-term goals, McCalla reiterated the importance of meeting and learning about the people in this area.
Secondly, he said he plans to become familiar with the college’s budget, strategic and facilities plans and other guiding documents.
“I want to engage in visiting and strategy sessions to understand … what (EWC staff/board) want and learn what’s the heart of the ‘Why’ of what they want,” McCalla said. “It’s not just what we do, but why we do it.”
McCalla also hopes to learn about initiatives to address issues already underway on campus, as well as discover “dream” initiatives.
“We really need to work hard to say ‘yes’ if at all possible,” he said.
Visiting employees on campus at offices and workspaces and getting to know students, with the potential of teaching an English class at EWC, are also on McCalla’s to-do list.
“The world looks different at the front of a classroom,” he said, explaining teaching offers a different perspective and allows a closer look at students and their lives.
McCalla said he would make visiting businesses, ranchers, school district personnel and government officials throughout the region a priority.
“There’s an engine that drives (education and it’s) interconnected throughout the region,” he said.
In his previous college administration experience, McCalla said he has worked to eliminate application fees, provide students the opportunity to register for fall and spring classes at the same time, and let all students charge $800 per semester in the bookstore, with the purpose of removing barriers in front of students “from being in classrooms on day one, ready to go.”
“I would ask everyone at the college to think about what they can stop doing,” he said. “We need to look for what we can learn to let go of so we can focus even more on what matters.”
McCalla received an associate of arts, general studies, from Brainerd Community College in 1983, a bachelor of arts, English, minor mass communications, from Bemidji State University in 1985 and a master of arts in English from Bemidji State University in 1988. He is currently in an Educational Leadership Doctoral Studies program at the University of St. Thomas.
McCalla is the interim vice president of academic and student affairs at Riverland Community College serving Austin, Albert Lea and Owatonna, Minn. This interim appointment is scheduled for Sept. 2016-June 2018. He is currently on leave from his position of dean of academic affairs from Riverland Community College to serve his interim appointment. This is a position held from July 2014-Aug. 2016. From Jan. 2014-June 2014, he served as the interim dean of academic affairs for Career and Technical Education at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead, Minn. McCalla was the dean of arts and sciences as well as the interim vice president of academic affairs/chief academic officer for Central Lakes College from July 2008-Dec. 2013.
He was elected and served as a school board member and chair in District 182, Crosby-Ironton Schools in Crosby, Minn. from Jan. 2009-Jan. 2013. From Aug. 2005 to June 2008 and Dec. 1992 to Sept. 1997, he was an English, mass communication and workplace skills instructor for Central Lakes College. McCalla served as the assistant to the state director of the United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development on a full-time sabbatical position from Oct. 2004-Sept. 2005 and also Oct. 2005-Jan. 2007 on a part-time and continuing project-based contract. From Oct. 1997 to Aug. 2004 he was the director of academic services/instructional technologist at Central Lakes College.
McCalla was the co-recipient of the 2013 Minnesota State Best Practices in Diversity Award as well as the co-recipient of the 2013 Resources for Relationships in Diversity Award. He was recognized as the 2012 Minnesota State System Outstanding Academic and Student Affairs Administrator, the 2012 Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society Administrator of the Year and Alumni of the Year. In 2010 he was a graduate of the Cuyuna Lakes Cohort of the Blandin Community Leadership Program and a 2008 graduate of the McSCU Board of Trustees Luoma Leadership/Chair Academy Program.
