Western Nebraska Community College has announced today that Dr. Terry Gaalswyk will serve as the college’s new, executive vice president.
Dr. Gaalswyk has a strong connection to education, hard work, and the community. Raised in Sibley, Iowa, he and his wife Sherry moved to Scottsbluff from Sioux City in 2009. He prides himself in his cabinetry skills, having worked for his dad’s wholesale custom countertop and cabinetry business, S&G Laminates, for over 20 years. This experience grounds him in the world of career-technical education and ethics of the workplace as well as higher education opportunities. He has served in higher education since 1992 with positions including math instructor, Division Chair of Mathematics and Behavioral Sciences, Associate Dean of Instruction, Dean of Instruction, and VP of Educational Services. He has served for five years at WNCC with career emphases that include institutional research, distance/online education, assessment, the Learning Resource Center, and has assumed oversight of Business and Community Education and Information Technology
“I’ve been impressed with WNCC’s tradition of service to our students, school districts, business & industry partners, and communities,” says Dr. Gaalswyk. “WNCC is committed to being our communities’ college. It is an honor and privilege to build upon a tradition that started in 1926 when Scottsbluff Junior College was established as an extension of the University of Nebraska. Sherry, Grace, and I are proud to call the panhandle of Nebraska home.”
WNCC President Dr. Todd Holcomb shows great enthusiasm for the appointment. “At the heart of every great college is the educational enterprise,” he says. “I have been fortunate to work with Dr. Gaalswyk over the last five years and have witnessed his commitment to the teaching and learning process. His talents and expertise will help lead WNCC as we begin our next strategic plan.”
For more information, contact the WNCC President’s Office at 308.635.6101 or sverbeck@wncc.edu.