New North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) President Joel Pedersen has just wrapped up his seventh month on the job.
Pedersen became NIACC President July 1, 2024, replacing former President Steve Schulz, who retired after leading the Mason City-based college for 10 years. Pedersen says Schulz and others helped set the stage for some “big wins” since he took over.
Those “wins” also include the opening of the new Career Academy at the NIACC Center in Charles City, which is a partnership with seven schools districts including Charles City, Clarksville, Nashua-Plainfield, North Butler, Osage, Riceville, and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock.
High school students have been taking CTE courses in healthcare, construction, IT and advanced manufacturing, with Pedersen noting there’s room for more students now and down the road.
Pedersen adds that NIACC hopes to break ground this spring or summer on a similar career academy in Hampton, in partnership with the Hampton-Dumont-Cal, Belmond-Klemme, and West Fork school districts.
NIACC opened its first career academy in Forest City in Fall 2021.
