LSC president takes helm of college this month

Patrick Johns has begun his tenure as the president of Lake Superior College.

He is the third president to serve since the college was established by the merger of Duluth Technical College and Duluth Community College Center in 1995. He succeeds Kathleen Nelson, who retired on June 30 after 13 years as president.

Johns is originally from Duluth. He graduated from Duluth Cathedral High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Superior. He holds a doctorate in adult and higher education from the University of South Dakota.

Love of the outdoors is one of the personal reasons for the move from the Twin Cities where Johns served for twenty years as president of Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Johns enjoys outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, camping and boating. The Johns family has deep roots in the area.

Pat Johns’ great-grandfather was one of the original settlers on Isle Royale in the late 1800s. The family is involved in restoring a log hotel and post office listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. His wife, Patricia Johns (McKenna), is originally from Virginia, Minn. She has worked for the past 11 years as an accountant for Anoka County. Their son, Sean, is a recent graduate of St. Cloud State University with a degree in economics.

Johns served as co-chair of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Leadership Council in 2009-10. He also served as co-chair of the MnSCU Leadership Council in 2008-09. Johns is a consultant-evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accrediting agency. He is also an effective participant in the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). He has attended its national leadership institute, its president’s academy, and served on its research commission, as well as the commission for academic, student and community development. He currently serves on the AACC commission for communications and marketing.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees appointed Johns president of Lake Superior College in May.

Tags: news, lsc, education, schools, duluth, business