Stoaks named SWCC vice president of instruction

During their regular meeting Tuesday, the Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees approved the appointment of Lindsay Stoaks of Lenox as the college’s vice president of instruction, upon the recommendation of Dr. Barb Crittenden, college president, effective Feb. 17.

Stoaks has been serving as the interim vice president of instruction for the college since November 2019, following the sudden loss of former Vice President of Instruction Bill Taylor, who passed away following a short-term battle with cancer.

“Lindsay works well with faculty and staff. She has demonstrated the ability to lead the instructional division and we are fortunate to have her as a member of our administrative team. I look forward to working with her in this capacity,” Crittenden said.

In her role, Stoaks will provide leadership in strategic and operational planning for the instructional division of the college. Stoaks has been with the college since May 2010 when she began in the role of coordinator of secondary programs. She continued in that position until July 2013 when she became assistant vice president of instruction. Since that time, she has played an active role in assisting the vice president of instruction in the administration and day-to-day operation of the instructional division. In addition, Stoaks has served as a Higher Learning Commission (HLC) assurance co-coordinator for the college’s accreditation process since November 2014.

Stoaks has a Master of Science degree in agricultural education and studies, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and mass communication. Both degrees were earned at Iowa State University. She completed leadership training through the Community College Leadership Initiative Consortium (CLIC) at Iowa State during the 2011-12 academic year.