Northwest College: Lisa Watson Chosen As Next President
Written by Andrew-Rossi on March 10, 2022
After an intense search, interim President Lisa Watson will become the Ninth President of Northwest College, chosen by the Board of Trustees.
The Northwest College Board of Trustees announced Ms. Lisa Watson as the ninth President of Northwest College on Thursday, March 10. Her appointment ends an intense search for the best person to lead Northwest College into a transformative future in Park County.
“After a strong recommendation from the Presidential Search Committee, the Board further deliberated and unanimously voted to retain Lisa Watson as President of Northwest College,” said Dr. Mark Wurzel, President of the NWC Board of Trustees.
Courtesy Northwest College
Lisa Watson is in her eighth year of service at Northwest College, serving as Vice President of Administrative Services and Finance before accepting the position of Interim President on November 19, 2020.
Watson assumed the position as Interim President after the resignation of former president Stefani Hicswa resigned in October 2020.
Watson has spent close to 12 years in higher education, including four at Miles Community College, where she served as Interim President and Vice President. During her career, she has led and supported various initiatives and efforts designed to move these institutions and their students forward for success.
Under her leadership, she has guided transformational work, developed facility master planning, improved budgeting, and financial operations, and developed a strong understanding of the Wyoming Community College system and legislative process.
Before working in higher education, Watson held various positions in finance and has extensive experience in private industry.
As a CPA, she has worked with various businesses, including family-held ag operators, downtown business owners, and fortune 500 companies with international operations.
Watson has been involved in numerous activities related to her work and personal life throughout her career. She has served on the National Association of College and University Business Officers sustainability board for chief business officers and is a proud member of Leadership Wyoming’s class of 2018.
Before living in Wyoming, she also served as a member of the Miles City Rotary Club, Holy Rosary hospital audit, Holy Rosary endowment, and Leadership Miles City. Additionally, she was the Treasurer of the Custer County Republican Women for ten years.
Watson will officially assume the position of President on July 11. 2022.
Watson holds a Master of Business Administration specializing in international business from the University of Miami, having graduated Summa Cum Laude. In addition, she is a certified public accountant, earning her bachelor’s in Accounting from the University of Colorado – Boulder. Currently, she is a doctoral student in the higher education administration program at the University of Wyoming.
Watson grew up in Colorado but spent her summers and free time in Riverton, Wyoming, and Wibaux, Montana, where her family hails, and she considered home. Her husband, Thomas Watson, is a certified public accountant, and the couple has one son in elementary school.
“The Board wishes to extend its deep gratitude to the entire campus community, and especially the search committee, for their involvement and commitment in this process,” said Wurzel. “With our presidential search completed, the Board looks forward to the campus community engaging together in our continued transformation efforts.”
