Presidential Transition
On Nov. 1, 2018, NMC President Timothy J. Nelson announced his plans to retire at the end of 2019. NMC's longest-serving president, he has led the college since 2001.
The NMC Board of Trustees began discussing plans for a presidential transition at a special public study session Nov. 6, including calling a meeting of the Presidential Performance and Compensation Committee to review the current presidential contract, creating a Presidential Search Committee, preparing an initial board survey to determine what trustees want in a new president and agreeing to seek proposals from professional search consultants.
"The Search Committee and the Board will make all its decisions and hold meetings in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, and after legal consultation about proper interviewing and decision making," Board Chair Kennard Weaver said at the Nov. 6 study session. "We intend to be completely open and transparent, because we are engaged in the public's business.... At the same time, we want it to be clear to everyone that President Nelson will continue to have the full support of the Board. He has and will continue to have all of the authority and responsibility he has had throughout his NMC career, until his last day of service. He has created a stable financial and structural atmosphere at the college, which will help us in securing good candidates. The Trustees intend to carry forward the successes President Nelson has enabled here, and a new President will not need or be asked to change our general direction and strategies."
View the video of the Nov. 1 Town Hall meeting where NMC President Tim Nelson announced his decision to retire below.

News releases and announcements
- Nov. 1, 2018: News release: NMC President to retire after 2019
- Jan. 15, 2019: Trustees select presidential search consultant
Transition Timeline
- Nov. 1, 2018 - President Tim Nelson announces his plans to retire at the end of 2019.
- Nov. 6, 2018 - Board of Trustees begins discussing a transition plan and agrees to seek proposals from professional search consultants.
- Nov. 26-27, 2018 - The college puts out a request for proposals (RFP) from professional search consultants and sends the RFP to 14 firms. Proposals are due Wednesday, Dec. 12.
- Dec. 17, 2018 - Board of Trustees reviews and ranks eight search consultant proposal submissions and invites the four top-ranked candidates to interview. The candidates to be interviewed are Pauly Group Inc., of Illinois; Gold Hill Associates, of Mississippi; AGB Search, LLC, of Washington, D.C.; and Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting, of Georgia.
- Jan. 9, 2019 - Board of Trustees interviews the top search consultant candidates.
- Jan. 14, 2019 - Board of Trustees votes unanimously to select Pauly Group Inc. as the presidential search consultant.
In The News
RECORD-EAGLE
January 16, 2019
NMC Hires Firm For President Search
THE TICKER
January 16, 2019
NMC Board narrows field of search firms to four
Yearlong process of finding new president begins
RECORD-EAGLE
December 18, 2018
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DAILY
November 5, 2018
Northwestern Michigan College President Retiring After 18 Years
9 & 10 NEWS
November 2, 2018
NMC president to retire after nearly two decades
UPNORTHLIVE.COM
November 2, 2018
NMC's Nelson, Announcing Retirement, Looks Back, Forward
THE TICKER
November 2, 2018
RECORD-EAGLE
November 1, 2018