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Dr. Barb Crittenden, president at Southwestern Community College since November 1996, announced her retirement during the SWCC Board of Trustees’ regular monthly meeting this evening. Her last day at the college will be July 30.
“I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of Southwestern for nearly 40 years, including the past 24 years as president,” said Crittenden. “During that time, faces and names have changed, but the college has consistently had a strong core of faculty, staff, and board members who believe in the mission of community colleges and work hard every day to provide opportunities for the students and communities we serve.”
Crittenden, a lifetime resident of Creston, made history as the first female community college president in the state of Iowa. In 2003, she received the Outstanding Chief Administrator Award from the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees.
Following the meeting, Dr. Tony Cass, board president, acknowledged the key role Crittenden has played in helping the college grow and evolve during her time at the helm.
“Dr. Crittenden has given her time and talents to Southwestern Community College for almost 40 years,” said Cass. “She has been an educator, a mentor, an administrator, and a dedicated leader always striving to move the college forward in the path of higher education and career skills. She has been an integral part of the process to help the college grow and expand services through the years by helping expand, modify, and develop educational programs according to the revolving needs of students and their career paths.”
Prior to being appointed president at Southwestern, Crittenden served as vice president for instruction from November 1988 to July 1997. During this time, she was responsible for all college credit programs in the arts and sciences and vocational-technical (now referred to as career and technical education) divisions. Crittenden began her career at Southwestern in 1981 as an adjunct nursing instructor, becoming a full-time nursing instructor in 1982.
Crittenden has seen significant changes in instructional programming during her tenure, including the addition of simulation in a variety of educational programs and the initiation of online education at Southwestern as one of the founding colleges in the Iowa Community College Online Consortium in 2000. During her time as president, there have been a number of visible changes to the educational facilities of the college including the addition of Technical Center II, the Allied Health and Sciences Center, the Agricultural Sciences Center, and three apartment-style residence halls, as well as remodeling of the Student Center and Instructional Center.
During her presidency, Crittenden has received various awards and honors including the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction from Phi Theta Kappa International in 2003; the Virgil S. Lagomarcino Laureate Award from Iowa State University in 1999; the Outstanding Vocational Administrator by the Iowa Vocational Association in 1998; and the Way Up XVI Recognition Award for significant contributions to the advancement of women in higher education in 1998.
Crittenden has been active on a number of statewide initiatives. From 2001 to 2015, she represented the community colleges of Iowa on the Iowa Community College Council, an advisory body to the Iowa State Board of Education. Crittenden was appointed to the Southwest Iowa STEM Advisory Board by Governor Terry Branstad in 2011 and served through 2017, when she was appointed to the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, a position she continues to hold. In 1999, she was appointed by Governor Tom Vilsack to serve on the Iowa 2010 Strategic Planning Council and in 1988 she was appointed by Branstad to serve on the Vocational Education Subcommittee of the Higher Education Task Force.
Through the years, Crittenden, a 1976 graduate of Creston High School, has been honored locally, as well. She was inducted into the Creston High School Hall of Fame in 2012; was named Woman of the Year by the Creston Business and Professional Women in 1999; and she continues to be an active member of the Creston Rotary Club.
Above all, Crittenden said she believes in the mission of the community college.
“The greatest reward has been seeing people take advantage of the opportunities the college provides,” Crittenden said. “There are so many great stories of individuals who have gotten their start at Southwestern. The impact of the college has been tremendous.”
Following the acceptance of Crittenden’s resignation, Cass authorized the college administration to move forward with the presidential search process. The college will utilize the services of consultant Dr. Larry Ebbers, university professor emeritus and professor emeritus, higher education, Iowa State University. The presidential search process will begin immediately.
Cass thanked Crittenden for her dedication to the college.
“It has been a privilege working with someone so dedicated to students and staff,” stated Cass. “On behalf of all the board members I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Dr. Crittenden for her service and leadership to Southwestern and wish her the best in her retirement.”