Terrence Leas, Riverland Community College

The Riverland Community College Foundation is dedicated to raise, manage and distribute resources to support, enhance and promote the educational opportunities Riverland offers the people of our region. You may learn more about the foundation by visiting www.riverland.edu/foundation/index.cfm.

In July, we named Steve Bowron as our new dean for institutional advancement. We developed this new role to reorganize our administrative structure in light of the recent budget challenges, to elevate the position to oversee the college foundation, government relations, grants and student housing.

With less public funding available and the need to maintain growth and improvements during these difficult financial times, Steve has established the following goals:

Enhance communication with current foundation donors to increase their understanding of the significant effect their investments have on Riverland students, programs, the college as a whole and the community’s vitality.

• Find new ways for business and industry, community leaders and members, and Riverland alumni to provide financial support and social capital to help address needs for scholarships, program enhancements and ongoing educational challenges.

Elevate communication and interaction with local politicians to ensure they are aware of the challenges Riverland faces and the needed support from our legislative bodies.

Oversee College Park Housing, on-campus student housing at our Austin campus, so it continues to provide students with a safe, secure and comfortable living environment.

Less public funding increases the need to assist Riverland’s faculty and staff with grant support, research and facilitation to pursue more funding sources that enhance the overall development and maintenance of educational programs and services to students.

Steve Bowron has a notable history with Riverland. He started in 1988 as a placement, marketing specialist at Albert Lea Technical College and served as the director of marketing and placement from 1996 to 1998. In 1999, he was named dean of customized training and the Owatonna Higher Education and Training Center. In 2006, he became the dean of career and technical education and the Albert Lea campus.

Reconnecting with Riverland alumni is an important part of the foundation’s success. Riverland is establishing an alumni relations program dedicated to contacting past graduates.

Leading this initiative is Marijo Alexander, executive assistant to the president, who graduated from Austin Community College in 1975 with a secretarial certificate and from Riverland Community College in 2009 with an associate in arts degree. Marijo co-chairs the Alumni and Friends Committee with Roger Boughton, retired Riverland dean. Her interest in alumni relations comes from her personal experiences at Riverland and her desire to expand our services.

We want to reacquaint ourselves with our alumni, learn about their achievements, and discover ways to renew their relationship with Riverland. To help us achieve these outcomes, we invite alumni to complete a short online survey conveniently located on our web site at www.riverland.edu/alumni.

Feedback will be valuable as we plan future activities. We look forward to hearing from you!

Terrence Leas is the president of Riverland Community College.