Northwest College: Two Finalists For Next College President
Written by Andrew-Rossi on February 15, 2022
The next president of Northwest College will be either a new or familiar face, and the public is asked to participate in the final part of the process.
Northwest College has announced two finalists for the open position of president, left vacant by Stefani Hicswa. Both candidates are scheduled to visit campus for in-person interviews and meetings with college and community stakeholders.
Stefani Hicswa resigned as president of Northwest College in October 2020. As a result, the nationwide search for a new president began in December 2020.
Neither candidate will be traveling very far. One is already on campus.
The finalists are Dr. Michelle Schutt, current Vice President of Community Learner Services at the College of Southern Idaho, and current Northwest College Interim President, Ms. Lisa Watson.
Dr. Schutt holds several professional degrees, including a doctorate in education.
- A. from Upper Iowa University in English Education
- Master Teacher M.S. from Emporia State University
- M.S. in Social Responsibility from St. Cloud State University
- Ph.D. in Education and Human Resources from Colorado State University.
Ms. Watson is in her eighth year of service at Northwest College, having served as Vice President of Administrative Services and Finance before accepting the position of Interim President on November 19, 2020.
Ms. Watson holds a Master of Business Administration specializing in international business from the University of Miami, having graduated Summa Cum Laude honors. She is a certified public accountant, earning her bachelor’s in Accounting from the University of Colorado – Boulder.
Currently, Watson is a doctoral student in the higher education administration program at the University of Wyoming.
A detailed bio for each finalist is available on Northwest College’s Presidential Search webpage.
Each finalist will be on campus for two days. Dr. Michelle Schutt is scheduled to interview at Northwest College, February 23-24, and Ms. Lisa Watson’s scheduled interview is March 2-3.
The new president will receive a job offer in early March and assume the position of President on July 11. 2022.
Members of the Bighorn Basin communities will have the opportunity to submit questions for the finalists ahead of time at nwc.edu/presidential search. However, due to time constraints during the campus address, only the most frequently asked questions will be presented to the finalists on the second day of the interview.
Please submit your questions ahead of time by these deadlines: 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, for Michelle Schutt, and 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, for Lisa Watson.
