Dr. Lita Burns, North Idaho College’s new Vice President of Instruction, has come a long way.
“I would say it would be important to know that I started out as a community college student,” Burns said. “I was a first generation college student and I know the challenges that brings.”
Experiencing adversity is only part of what Burns said fuels her desire to help students, however.
“Because I have sat across the table with students, hearing about their struggles of being in college, and being able to address those struggles, I think that puts all decisions that I would make at this level in a different perspective,” Burns said.
Burns, who officially took office on August 27, said while she wants to expand services offered by NIC, including duel credit programs, online instruction and outreach centers, she doesn’t want anyone to be concerned that she will make radical changes now that she’s in office.
“I think that we have some excellent instruction going on,” Burns said, “We have excellent programs that we’re delivering. We have some really good people working at North Idaho College and I think my role is going to be is tapping into all of that and building on that.”
Burns said she is excited to being a voice for NIC across the state and nation, and also looks forward to having a broader influence as a leader.
“The good news is that I get to continue to work with many of the people I was able to work with before: the division chairs, some of the departmental heads across campus, the registrar’s offices, the financial aid office and all those sorts of things. It’s really rewarding to become a part of the team from a different level,” Burns said.
But her new position is not without challenges.
“This is my 12th year [at North Idaho college] and I do know a lot about the college and how the college operates, but I don’t know it from this position. So it’s really learning to manage this part of the institution at a different level,” Burns said. “The learning curve is big. Every single day I’m learning something new, and looking at the institute more broadly than I did before.”
Burns previously worked as NIC’s Dean of Health Professions and Nursing for two and a half years, having been promoted from being the director of the same department.
Burns said she’s proud of the work she dd during her time as dean.
“I had the opportunity to work with a number of wonderful faculty, but I think the thing that was a most exciting about my work over there was that we were really able to expand many programs and start many new programs which I really think met the needs of the students,” Burns said.
“Lita was probably the first individual in recent history, maybe even long term history that was hired internally to be promoted [at this college],” said NIC President Joe Dunlap.
Traditionally, NIC will hire administrators from other colleges, rather than promote current staff.
Burns, originally a nurse at Denver Children’s Hospital for 10 years, got her start in the academic world at Central Wyoming College, where she served as a nursing faculty member for seven years before eventually being promoted to being a division chair and director of nursing.
Burns said during this time she received a recruitment flyer from NIC that eventually caused her to apply to the college by the lake.
“I think as you move up the ranks from faculty, to a division chair, to dean, you engage in being a part of student’s lives, and really understanding what the needs of students are, and particularly students that come to a community colleges,” Burns said. “I think more than anything that is something that will help me in this position.”
Burns replaced Jay Lee, who left the college at the end of the previous semester.
Dunlap and a search committee chose Burns over fifty other national applicants for the position.
“I’m very thrilled to have Lita on this team,” Dunlap said.
Burns, who said she didn’t initially believe she would get the position, said she’s excited to move forward.
“I just want to say that I’m grateful for this amazing opportunity that has been given to me,” Burns said. “I have received a tremendous amount of support from across the campus and that has just been amazing to me. I plan to work really hard to make sure student’s needs are met first.”
