Northeastern Junior College has four new faces including department head

Former instructor Andy Bartlett has returned to serve as the new chair of the Agriculture Department. Bartlett grew up on a farm in Merino, and now, married with two children, he and his family live on and still run the family farm. He attended NJC and Colorado State University, studying soil and crop science. After graduating, he taught at NJC for seven years and worked for a large GPS company for three and a half years.

“While I enjoyed my work in precision agriculture, I missed the faculty and staff in the Agriculture Department as well as across the NJC campus. I also missed teaching the students,” Bartlett said.

As for why he wanted to go into education in the first place, he credited the many former educators who made an impact on his life.

“I wanted to give back in the same way while teaching about a subject that I had cared about for a long time,” Bartlett said.

“So many folks have created a lasting impact on the NJC Agriculture Department. It is my goal to continue our time-honored traditions while continuing to make it a first college of choice for agriculture students in the U.S.,” Bartlett said.

“It is great to be back working on a campus that puts the students first. There are so many selfless people at NJC and I am lucky to be a part of their crew,” Bartlett said.

Angela Hutt-Swedlund

Angela Hutt-Swedlund is a new business instructor. She is from the Sterling area, grew up in Iliff and graduated from Caliche High School. After high school, she moved away to Colorado Springs a couple of times but has always returned to Sterling and has lived here for over eight years now.

Before taking on this role, she worked for Hewlett-Packard/HP Inc. for over 28 years in various roles in global finance. Hutt-Swedlund started working for Hewlett-Packard in Colorado Springs; then was able to continue to work for the company remotely while living in Sterling. In 2015, Hewlett-Packard was split into two companies, and she oversaw setting up the global banking strategy for HP Inc. Her latest position was global program manager supporting Treasury and Finance Transformation organization on various major global projects related to acquisition and process transformation.

Through her time with Hewlett-Packard/HP Inc., she has been able to travel to many countries around the world. While working, she also attended Regis University and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Project Management from Colorado Technical University online. She is also Project Management Certified.

Asked why she decided to make the move into education, she said it was time for a change.

“I have always enjoyed teaching. During my time at HP, I was a mentor and trainer for many new employees. I felt this was the right time to make the change to not only have a job, but to start a new career where I can really make a difference and enjoy what I do every day as a Business Professor at NJC,” Hutt-Swedlund said.

As for why she chose NJC, she called it a great college with amazing faculty and staff.

“I am blessed to be able to be part of this great college right in our own community in northeast Colorado. I am really enjoying meeting our amazing students and having the opportunity to teach them from my vast business experience,” Hutt-Swedlund said.

She is married to Todd and together they have three children. In her free time, she enjoys traveling (especially when water is involved), spending time with family, friends and her dogs, working with NextGen at Sterling Foursquare Church, volunteering in the community and reading.

Kelli Gandee

Kelli Gandee is a new nursing instructor. From Crook, she joined her brother and sisters in helping out on the family farm/ranch growing up. After graduating from the University of Nebraska – Kearney with her BSN, she began her career in nursing, spending six years working mostly in emergency departments across western Nebraska and eastern Colorado. Gandee completed her master’s degree in nursing education in 2024.

“I am both excited and nervous to begin this new journey,” she said.

Gandee said she decided to switch to teaching because a career in education is very conducive to her current situation with a young family. She didn’t want to miss her children’s events because she had to work a 12-hour shift.

“I would say that I equally, if not more, enjoyed my time working in the emergency department with student nurses and orientating new staff to the department. This role led me to return to school to obtain my MSN with hopes to make a career in educating young nurses,” she said. “Being a student nurse is a very vulnerable position, and I want to ensure that students have strong support and mentorship, allowing them to succeed in their education and eventually their career.”

Gandee decided to begin her teaching career at NJC in part because the staff is very family-oriented.

“Another reason I wanted to teach at NJC is that I know from first-hand experience how important the work and education they provide is to our community. I was a pre-nursing student here myself before transferring to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Kearney, and I am proud to be able to be a part in providing the same great education that I received so many years ago,” she said.

Dr. Henry Oh

Late last school year, Dr. Henry Oh joined the staff as the new 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.