Lewis-Clark State College provost to leave position

Lewis-Clark State College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carmen Simone is moving on, the college announced Thursday.

Simone was appointed president of Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colo., this week, and will take over the presidency June 3.

"This is bittersweet for me," Simone said in an LCSC news release. "While I'm honored and excited to begin serving Trinidad State Junior College as their next president, I'm also saddened to be leaving Lewis-Clark State College. The faculty and staff at LCSC are truly remarkable in their dedication to our students. I'm indebted to President (Anthony) Fernandez for the opportunity to serve as the provost of such a fine institution."

Simone has served in her position at LCSC since August 2011. Prior to that, she was vice president of academic affairs at Casper College in Casper, Wyo., where she also served for 11 years as a chemistry faculty member and was elected chairwoman of the faculty senate. She holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of North Dakota and a doctorate in chemistry from Colorado State University.

"Carmen has been very instrumental in making LCSC a stronger college and we wish her all the best at Trinidad State Junior College," Fernandez said. "She will make a fine president and she will be sorely missed."

Trinidad State Junior College has approximately 2,200 students on campuses in Trinidad and Alamosa. LCSC's enrollment is 4,387 this spring.

Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System, said she is pleased Simone has accepted the position.

"Her background in community college leadership, the comments from the college and community and my time with her make me confident that she will be a strong, effective leader for the college," she said. "We are all looking forward to working with her and welcome her to the system and to the college."

An interim provost will be announced as soon as a decision on one is made, said LCSC spokesman Greg Meyer, and a search will be conducted for the permanent position at a later date.

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