Even amid the pomp and circumstance common to inauguration ceremonies, new Kirkwood Community College president Kristie Fisher ardently sought to shift the attention from herself.
In fact, in her introductory remarks at the inauguration ceremony held on her behalf Feb. 21 at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, Ms. Fisher said she had initially sought to avoid a formal event altogether.
“When we discussed it at cabinet, I made the argument that we can save time, effort, money – I didn’t need one, we could just skip it,” said Ms. Fisher, who formally began her duties as Kirkwood’s sixth president in October 2023, succeeding Lori Sundberg. “But one of my wise colleagues quickly reminded me that the inauguration wasn’t just about me. Far more important, it was about the college and our traditions. And he was so right. Kirkwood has a long tradition of high-quality education and training and a tradition of exceptional service to our students and our communities. That deserves to be celebrated.”
Ms. Fisher further emphasized Kirkwood’s community focus by recognizing several groups in the audience, asking them to stand – first the college’s current and former trustees, then current and former students, and finally current and former faculty, staff and administrators.
“I won’t ask anyone else to stand up,” she said. “But I am hopeful that visualization made the point that Kirkwood is about our traditions and our community. It is not about one person. The community of traditions is significant here at Kirkwood.”
Selected from a group of three finalists in May 2023 after a nationwide search, Ms. Fisher has a long legacy in education, both in Iowa and at Kirkwood.
Growing up in the Swisher/Shueyville area and attending Prairie High School, Ms. Fisher, 53, has held multiple positions at Kirkwood throughout her career. After receiving an associate of arts degree from Kirkwood, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Iowa and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education from Iowa Iowa State University, she served as the Annual Giving Director for the Kirkwood Foundation From 1995 to 2000. Following a four-year period as the Director of Community Relations with the College Community School District in Cedar Rapids, she came back to Kirkwood in 2004 to serve as the Director of Special Projects and Assistant to the President under Mick Starcevich’s leadership.
In 2006, Fisher was named Kirkwood’s Vice President of Student Services, a position she held until 2014. She then became the Senior Director/Assistant Vice President of National Associations and Market Engagement for ACT, Inc. in Iowa City, where she stayed until being named President of Iowa Valley Community College in 2019 – a role she held until returning to Kirkwood as president last year.
Speakers at the inauguration ceremony, ranging from Kirkwood Faculty Association president Julia Rabe and student Ellen Waynahere to alumnus Benjamin Smart of Big Grove Brewery, spoke at length about the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie that has characterized Kirkwood since its foundation in 1966 as Area Ten Community College, and its subsequent name change in 1969 to Kirkwood Community College in honor of Samuel J. Kirkwood, an early abolitionist who served as Iowa’s governor during the American Civil War.
Ms. Rabe noted Kirkwood’s perseverance through adversity in recent years, from layoffs, closings and relocations to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We make students feel at home, and we treat our colleagues like family,” she said. “We support and we build each other up, celebrating the successes of others, and helping them up when they fall. This doesn’t mean that we always agree with each other or always get along, but it does mean that we consistently put aside our differences and embrace our common goals and vision, the success of every student and the success of our historic institution.”
She also cited Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, who innovated the concept of the manufacturing assembly line.
“He once commented that if everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself,” she said. “Collaboration is more than simply working together towards a common goal. It’s encouraging diversity, creativity and innovation. And recognizing the value of individual diverse opinions and perspectives, prioritizing and promoting a culture of collaboration, in turn creates an environment where innovation is encouraged, voices are valued and creativity is welcomed.”
Ms. Waynahere, a native of Liberia, West Africa, and president of the Kirkwood Black Student Union, said she was immediately struck by Ms. Fisher’s eagerness to meet and build relationships with students.
“I had the opportunity to meet (Ms. Fisher) last fall,” she said. “I was one of the students interviewing her as a presidential candidate. We were told to jokingly ask these candidates very tough questions. But halfway through the interview, I just wanted to hand her the position as president. Her beliefs and attitudes towards life aligned with mine … There is no doubt in my mind she will continue to go out of her way to build relationships with students and stay true to her words. From my humble student perspective, she is precisely what Kirkwood represents: community-minded, compassionate, honest, and a great listener.”
Mr. Smart, culinary director and executive chef for Big Grove Brewery, said his career plans took a “left turn” – after graduating from the University of Iowa with a geology degree, he said he decided to pass up a lucrative internship in favor of attending culinary school at Kirkwood.
“I can honestly say it is the best decision I’ve ever made my entire life, and it has completely changed me,” he said. “From the moment that I stepped on campus, I was at home.”
As Kirkwood prepared him for a career in the culinary arts, Mr. Smart said he’s returned the favor “by sitting on advisory committees, by giving guest lectures, by inviting students in to work with us to have internships or just to show them around the space. It’s awesome to be able to give back to the college that has done so much for me personally, and that’s done even more for the industry that I love.”
In stressing the traditions that have forged partnerships with local businesses, area colleges and universities, and K-12 institutions, Dr. Fisher also noted that institutions like Kirkwood also have to be ready to meet future challenges.
“Tradition is not about the status quo,” she said. “Our tradition is to innovate and change. So tradition does not stop us from evolving. In fact, it demands that we change and innovate to meet the needs of today’s students and the needs that are in our community. I commit to honoring the tradition of excellence, collaboration, service and innovation that makes Kirkwood who we are.”
Ms. Fisher concluded by noting that she recently stopped by the statue of Samuel Kirkwood that stands at the college’s entrance, reading for the first time the affixed plaque detailing his career.
“The plaque reads ‘Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa’s Civil War governor, United States Senator, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, staunch opponent of slavery, strong advocate for the preservation of the Union, firm believer in individual rights and opportunities,’” she said. “The plaque goes on to say ‘Kirkwood Community College reflects the ideals set forward by its namesake in fostering hope, talents and opportunities for all people.’ That is so simple, and yet so powerful. Today I pledge to all of you that I will always honor the traditions of Kirkwood while we evolve to meet the challenges of a changing world, and I will always remember that we are Kirkwood because, like Governor Kirkwood, we strive to foster hope, talents and opportunities for all people.”
