Since becoming president on April 15, Nadolny is working hard to identify the needs of the college and what expansions and improvements are needed while setting the groundwork for implementing them. Nadolny also is establishing relationships with faculty, students and the community, as well as state leaders who are important in securing funding and support for the college.
Nadolny first became aware of the WSC opening this past November. While going through a WSC interview process that consisted of three interviews, the final with the State Board of Higher Education, Nadolny also was interviewing for openings at colleges in Wisconsin and St. Louis.
“I was open; a lot of it has to do with with the best fit, the best match,” said Nadolny.
Nadolny said the other candidates also came from strong backgrounds, but in the end the board seems to feel he was the best fit for the college. Nadolny said the choice wasn’t difficult for him and he’s been very impressed with the college and the community from the start. “The main thing was just the people from the community; they were just incredible. I feel very much a part of the community already,” said Nadolny.
Nadolny said one of the things that impresses him about WSC is the wide variety of programs.
“I believe community colleges are ‘opportunity colleges.’ There are so many applications here for transfers, for workforce training and so on. This place is multi-faceted, which makes this a college destination,” said Nadolny.
Nadolny said an important step in making WSC more student friendly is the more than $15 million in funding for expansion projects approved by the Legislature this session. Nadolny said the $9 million in bonding authority for a new dorm, $5 million in funding for a virtual workforce center and about $1.6 million for renovation of science labs is to make WSC more modern and appealing.
“It’s very important to get those projects done and make them successful. We want to create an experience that students will want to have. My approach is to do what we can to create an environment and a campus that is student friendly,” said Nadolny.
Nadolny said so far, things are going about as well as he expected. Faculty members are being very receptive of him and for his vision for the overall expansion of the college.
Nadolny everyone is talking about how the campus can be made into a warmer, vibrant community. He said some things such as making the music faculty full-time and changing the area where his office is located into more of a student-services area are some things being done to get the ball rolling.
“This is basically a front door for the president. It should be a front door for the students; kind of a one-stop shop for paying bills, to learn about campus programs,”
said Nadolny.
He said changing the area and relocating his office should be done by the fall semester.
Another major plan he has is to explore addition to the athletics program. He said once the new dorms and tech center are completed, he’s wants to try to expand athletics. He said one sport likely could be added and during a few brief talks with the athletics department, the choices most likely are football, hockey or women’s softball.
“I’m really excited about all that,” said Nadolny.
Getting into the role of WSC president is exciting and a lot hard, yet satisfying work. One of his biggest goals in the coming months is to meet with state officials, donors and make contacts throughout the area and the state.
“There are a lot of people to meet with and lot of people to invite here to get more support for the college. Also, the community has been a big supporter of the college,” said Nadolny.
Nadolny is a Chicago native and received his bachelor’s degree from Benedictine University, an master’s from Mount Angel Seminary and a doctorate in education from Oregon State University.
He previously taught and was an administrator at Cochise Community College in Arizona and was vice-president of Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland, Wash., before arriving at WSC.
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