GCC extends emeritus status to former instructors, staff, board members

IRONWOOD — Longtime Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees member Susan Beals was elected chairman as the board held a re-organizational meeting Jan. 31.

Other officers include William Malloy as vice chairman, Eric Fitting as treasurer and John Lupino as secretary. All will serve in their respective offices for two years. Other members of the board include Tom Brown and newcomers Robert Stempihar and Michael McPherson.

The board will continue to hold regular meetings on the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. with the exception of July, October and December meetings, which are scheduled to avoid conflicts with the Michigan Community College Association summer conference, Halloween, and the Christmas holiday. Meetings will be held in the upper level of the Lindquist Student Center.

In other action, McKenzie Kanipes was selected as head volleyball coach. She was hired in November 2022 as a career counselor at the college.

Kanipes attended the Ironwood Area Schools before moving to Clayton, Wisconsin, where she graduated in 2013. She was a feted student athlete, earning regional and state honors in high school volleyball, basketball and track and field. She went on to play volleyball at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. She also has served as an assistant AAU basketball coach in the Minneapolis area until 2020.

Kanipes holds a bachelor’s degree from the UW-Superior and a Master of Social Work from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

“We are excited for volleyball to return to GCC and believe that McKenzie has the competitive mindset and vision to take our program to the national level,” said Jennifer Sabourin, vice president of student services.

Leif Forcia, of Ironwood, was hired as the esports assistant coach. A GCC alum in criminal justice, he has a passion for competitive gaming. “He’s been gaming for nearly three decades and believes that he can help our student athletes grow as students and as competitive gamers,” said Sabourin. He will begin his duties in February.

A list of retirees for emeritus status was approved by the boards. The rank of emeritus status is a recognition of those that have made long-term contributions to the college and have a minimum of 15 years of service as a member of the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, said a press release.

“Each person on the list, in their own distinctive manner, supported the college’s mission to advance educational opportunities in the Upper Peninsula. They had unique skill sets and strengths that supported functional operations. Emeriti are a significant part of the college’s distinguished history and helped form the culture and image of the college as we know it today,” said college President George McNulty.

The list includes faculty members: James Dahlin, Kathleen “Kit” Malloy, the late Alexander Marciniak, Raymond A. Niemi, Patricia (Belmas) Waech and Kimberly Wanink. Staff members include: Mary Beth Barlock, Keith Beckman, Cheryl Bunt, John Busch, David Erickson, Suzetta Forbes, Jeanne Graham, Linda Gustafson, Lenore Jackson, Laura Krell, Walter Lessun, Delaine Maki, Linda Montonati, Kathie Munn, Brian Panich, Therese Pawlak, Donald Pelkola, Elaine Skoviera, Rodman Smith, Mark Wendt and Geraldine Westeen. James Lorenson, former president, and Tim Kolesar, former board member, were also recommended for emeritus status by the chairman of the board.

The total combined years of service of this group is just shy of 800 years, according to the release. The college plans to celebrate them and their accomplishments at an event this spring.

The board also approved the resignation of Christina Danielle Boyette as the instructional designer effective Feb. 3, and authorized administration to search for a replacement.

In other action, the 2023 spring adjunct faculty list was approved.