The finalists for the next president of North Idaho College were announced today by the college's board of trustees.

Jack Becherer currently serves as president of Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill. Previously, Becherer served as president at Wenatchee Valley College in Washington. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a doctorate in counseling and higher educational administration from College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Joseph Dunlap currently serves as president of Spokane Community College and previously served as vice president of learning at Spokane Community College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Whitworth College, a master’s degree in business administration from City University in Washington and a doctorate in education from Oregon State University.

Karin Hilgersom currently serves as vice president for instruction at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Ore. Previously, Hilgersom served as executive vice president of instruction at Walla Walla Community College in Washington. She holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from California State University, a master’s degree in rhetoric and communication from the University of Oregon and a doctorate in educational policy and management from the University of Oregon.

Nathan “Clark” Williams is currently the vice president of operations at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Ore. Previously, Williams served as chairman, president and chief executive officer for The DecisionWorks, Inc., a science and engineering risk management firm in Virginia. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy in Maryland and a master’s degree in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University.

Denise Yochum is the current president of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, Wash. Previously, Yochum served as vice president for instruction at Grays Harbor College in Washington. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from California Polytechnic State University in California, a master’s degree in speech communication from San Diego State University and has recently completed Ph.D. coursework in leadership studies at Gonzaga University.

The five finalists were selected by a 22-member search committee comprising community, college and various stakeholder groups who evaluated the pool of candidates.

“We saw an unusually high number of applicants for the job,” said NIC Presidential Search Committee Co-Chair and Trustee Ken Howard. “I think it speaks to the reputation of the college, our community and northern Idaho that so many people want to be a part of something so special.”

The committee conducted interviews the week of March 19 before forwarding the list of finalists to the board.

“I was extremely impressed with the vast experience, professional caliber and the wide breadth of people who applied,” said Tim Komberec, community representative on the search committee and president of the  NIC Foundation. “Our process was designed to give us the five people we felt best prepared and able to lead this great college.”

In May of 2011, North Idaho College President Priscilla Bell announced her plans for retirement in June 2012, after five years in the position.

“I feel very confident we will continue to see NIC make great contributions to our community under the leadership of one of these finalists,” added David Bobbitt, chairman and CEO of Community First Bank and committee member. “I hope the community will turn out to meet and get to know the finalists when they come to campus.”

Open forums for each candidate will be held the week of April 9 to offer community and college groups the opportunity to meet and ask questions of the candidates. Each forum will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Edminster Student Union Building Lake Coeur d’Alene Room according to the following schedule: Denise Yochum April 9, Joseph Dunlap April 10, Nathan “Clark” Williams April 11, Karin Hilgersom April 12 and Jack Becherer April 13.

A complete presidential profile and other information on the search process can be found by visiting www.nic.edu/presidentialsearch.