“You could see her walking around to the tables, checking on these young men and women. I have seen her personally come solve some challenges they had and resolve issues and it was just so impressive to see that dedication. She continues that now in the Financial Aid Office,” NJC President Mike White said.
Jason Ha, academic technology coordinator, is the Professional/Technical Employee of the Year. He graduated from NJC in 2018 and started out working for the college as an intern in the IT Department and worked his way from part-time to full-time.
His colleague, who nominated him for the award, said, “Jason is very hardworking and diligent at his job. He is constantly being helpful to someone and he maintains a friendly and respectful presence for students, faculty and staff. This year, NJC has taken on more online classes than expected and Jason has gone above and beyond to make sure those classes are set up with the instructors.”
Shelli Krager, early childhood education instructor, is the Adjunct Instructor of the Year. Her full-time job is working as a teacher and director of the preschool at Prairie School. As an adjunct instructor at NJC, she is part of the team that “keeps early childhood education running throughout the state of Colorado,” by offering 12-16 courses a year for current early childhood education students and area providers, according to Celeste Delgado-Pelton, chair of the Liberal Arts Department.
Krager teaches intro to infant/toddler techniques and the lab that goes with that, plus she helps teach online courses.
“We are really indebted to her; she does a fantastic job,” Delgado-Pelton said.
Earlier in the meeting, the council was introduced to new staff, including Dr. Henry Oh, vice president of academic affairs. An educator, leader, author, scholar and speaker with a diversity of expertise and background, Dr. Oh’s board credentials include registered respiratory therapist, medical laboratory scientist, chartered biologist, certified brain health coach, and certified professional in engineering management. He has made significant contributions to advancing the quality and accessibility of higher education, impacting students, educators, and institutions both nationally and internationally.
Throughout his career, Dr. Oh has held key academic leadership roles, including Associate Dean, Department Chair, and Executive Director, where he has championed curriculum innovations, student success, and faculty development. He was recognized as an Honorary Colonel by the State Governor of Kentucky in 2022 and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in the U.K. His recent book, “Unlocking Your Mind: How the Brain Learns and Adapts,” has received three national and international awards, offering readers insights into the brain’s potential in neuroplasticity.
Other new staff members include Christinia Gesford, director of financial aid; David Farrow, dean of career and technical education; Eric Iseli, automotive and diesel faculty; Gerry Whipple, applied technology campus career navigator; Jaime Soliman, online support specialist; and Matthew Wheeler, structural trades II.
In other business, NJC Honors Program senior Cole Haley shared his capstone project presentation on “Replacement of Traditional Drive Trains With Hybrid Diesel Electronic Drivetrain in Ag Operations.” He spoke about how replacing the traditional drive train with an electric drive train would improve efficiency and gave a real-world example of a company doing that, Edison Motors, an electric truck manufacturer in Canada.
Additionally, during his president’s report, White shared that construction on the Applied Technology Campus expansion project is progressing and is expected to be completed in June, in time to offer an electrician program there in the fall.
He also shared that concurrent enrollment courses at NJC have provided $970,000 in savings for students and NJC’s enrollment right now has increased 6% compared to the same time last year. Plus, he mentioned the partnerships NJC continues to form with four-year universities, announcing that there will be three graduates from The Partnership for Rural Educator Preparation program this spring.
The council also recognized outgoing member Jamie Jo Axtell and new council member Logan County Commissioner Mike Brownell.
