Dr. Harold Prior submitted his resignation to the Iowa Lakes Community College board of trustees Friday.
He will be sorely missed.
Prior's leadership came at the crucial time in the college's future. He took up the baton from Dr. Michael Hupfer, previous Iowa Lakes president, who first envisioned a wind energy and turbine technology program for the college.
Prior seized the opportunity to build upon the program, and with the support and encouragement of the board of trustees, turned the program into the gold standard for training future employees in the wind energy field.
In addition, Prior negotiated an articulation agreement in which graduates from the wind program at Iowa Lakes can transfer to the University of Iowa College of Engineering.
Demonstrating his continued commitment to wind energy, Prior is continuing as president of the Iowa Wind Energy Association.
Most recently, Prior helped steer the college through the same fiscal challenges that all institutions of higher learning have faced. He has succeeded stunningly. In fact, overall credits taken by students this semester are up from last semester, something that's often the reverse at many colleges.
Because of Prior's leadership, Iowa Lakes Community College is poised to stand front and center as a world leader in technology training.
Iowa Lakes continues as a first-choice for many students for arts and sciences transfer programs as well. An extremely high percentage of Estherville Lincoln Central High School graduates choose Iowa Lakes because they can save substantially on tuition and room and board by staying at home their first two years of college. Prior has been very instrumental in selling the value and quality of Iowa Lakes as an institution of higher learning.
Estherville and the surrounding area has been extremely fortunate to have a leader of Prior's caliber in the office of Iowa Lakes president. We are lucky as well to have such a fine college right here in Estherville.
Congratulations, Dr. Prior, on your retirement. And thank you for your service to Iowa Lakes Community College and to our area.