Normandale Community College president retiring next year

Just got this from Normandale in Bloomington:

Opatz to Retire as President of Normandale Community College

Joe Opatz, Ph.D., who is currently serving in his sixth year as the president of Normandale Community College, has announced his intention to retire upon the completion of his contract on Aug. 1, 2014.“It has been a tremendous honor to serve this truly outstanding institution,” said Opatz. “I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the faculty, staff, and students of Normandale for making my tenure a wonderful experience. With the college well-positioned for future growth and success, I am ready to pursue new interests and personal opportunities.”

“Normandale has had an impressive run under Joe Opatz’s leadership, including substantial growth in their online offerings and enrollment, expansion of facilities that allow the college to better serve students, establishing innovative and collaborative programs in high-demand areas such as nursing and health science, and serving as a cost-effective pathway for students wishing to go on to complete their baccalaureate degree,” said Steven Rosenstone, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor. “Joe has been a terrific leader who has dramatically transformed the quality of the education that Normandale provides.”

Before being named president of Normandale Community College in 2007, Opatz served as vice president of Academic Affairs and interim president of Central Lakes College, and held executive and leadership roles at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and St. Cloud State University. He also served seven terms in the Minnesota State House of Representatives.

Rosenstone said that he intends to visit the Normandale campus in the fall to consult with faculty, staff, and students before initiating a nationwide search.

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