(Lamar, Colo.) – Lamar Community College (LCC) is proud to announce the hiring of its new Vice President of Academic and Student Services (VPSS).Larry McLemore, previously the Dean of Career and Technical Education at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, Calif., will begin his tenure at LCC no later than July 1.
He will replace interim LCC VPSS Dr. Janet Steinkamp, who will retire June 30.
“Larry McLemore will bring a fresh perspective, wonderful history of experience and a great deal of knowledge to Lamar Community College,” said LCC President Dr. Linda Lujan. “We’re proud to have him on board and know he’ll have a huge positive impact on our students.”
McLemore stated that he is excited his new position will bring him back to an area he knows well.
“I’m moving back home,” he said. “I lived in Prowers and Baca counties for many years. I began my professional life in the area, and now in my second career I am returning to an area of the country I am very familiar and fond of. I have many great memories and plan to make many more as the VPSS for LCC.”
McLemore’s “second career” in academics began after spending nearly 20 years in auto body and maintenance, and eventually owning and operating auto body shops in both Lamar and Holly, Colo.
His academic career began when he accepted a faculty position with Northwest Kansas Technical College (NKTC) as a collision repair instructor. He then went on to become Division Chair/Instructor at NKTC, then Dean of Industrial Technology at Seward Community College in Liberal, Kansas, and as previously mentioned, Dean of Career Education at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, Calif.
Soon, LCC will be his next stop in academic leadership.
“I am very excited to have the dual VP role at LCC,” said McLemore. “The opportunities for the college and the community are endless when the academic and student services are working together in an alignment of strengths, and I am very excited to assist in this effort. I’m also excited to return to a rural college setting where the relational aspects of education are focal to the mission, vision and values of the college and the community.
“‘To me, LCC means Life Changing College.’ That’s why I’m excited to be a part of Lamar Community College.”
McLemore holds a master’s and bachelor’s in Career and Technical Education, from Pittsburg State University, an associate degree and certificate in Collision Repair, both from NKTC, a certificate in Hybrid Automotive Education from the Auto Career Development Center, a certificate in Appreciative Inquiry and Organizational Leadership from Ovation Net and an International Diploma in Social Construction and Professional Practice from the Taos Institute.
Having both academic and business experience are a combination from McLemore that Lujan said will be very beneficial to LCC students.
“His entrepreneurial skills, community engagement abilities and business knowledge provide him with a lens of organizational leadership not common in higher education,” added Lujan. “And LCC students will be the ones to benefit from this experience, which is why we’re here.”