Tell us about your journey at LCC and what you are excited for in retirement.

My journey at Lansing Community College has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life. For 34 years, LCC allowed me to combine my experiences in counseling, education, and student development into one meaningful vocation. Every day brought opportunities to meet students where they were, help them navigate life's challenges, and celebrate their successes.

As I retire, I do so with deep gratitude for the colleagues, students, and friends who made these years so rewarding. Retirement is not an ending so much as a transition into another season of service. I look forward to completing my PhD dissertation this summer and devoting more time to research, writing, and helping Christian organizations do what we strive to do every day in higher education: measure our mission and make sure we are truly accomplishing what we set out to do.

Tell us about how you got started at LCC. What do you remember most from your first day, week, or month?

I still remember my first day on campus as a 17-year-old Peer Advisor. I was helping new students register for classes during orientation, but what fascinated me most were the conversations that naturally turned from course schedules to life goals. Students would ask, "What should I study?" and "What do I want to do with my life?"

Those conversations ultimately changed my own life. They inspired me to switch my major from architecture to counseling because I discovered I loved helping people think about the meaning of their lives and the direction they wanted to take.

What positions have you held throughout your LCC career? How would you describe your career path and the role that LCC played in it?

I began as a Peer Advisor in the Counseling Office, then served in Enrollment Services, Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Advising, and ultimately returned to the Counseling Office as a Mental Health Counselor. Along the way, I also had the privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor in the University Center for Siena Heights University for nearly twenty years.

Each role gave me a different opportunity to support students, and LCC continually encouraged me to grow professionally through advanced education, collaboration, and service. I leave deeply grateful for the opportunities this college has provided.

Tell us about some of your favorite LCC memories.

Some of my favorite memories come from the people I had the privilege to work alongside. I loved the Peer Advising teambuilding weekends that built lifelong friendships and taught us how to support one another. I enjoyed traveling to middle schools and high schools in Admissions, helping students get excited about college. In Financial Aid, there was nothing quite like telling a student we had found additional money that made college possible. And in the Counseling Office, it has been incredibly rewarding to watch our campus expand its commitment to student mental health and well-being.

Tell us about your proudest LCC accomplishments or successes.

The accomplishment I am most proud of cannot really be measured. It is knowing that over the years I had the opportunity to walk alongside thousands of students during important moments in their lives. If I helped even a few students stay in school, find hope, or discover their own strength, then I consider my career a success.

I am also proud to have been part of the college's growing commitment to student mental health and the expansion of counseling services that will continue serving students well into the future.

What are you most excited for as you head into retirement?

My years in higher education confirmed a simple truth: what gets measured gets managed. Colleges are intentional about assessing whether students are learning, and counselors are intentional about assessing well-being. A commitment to measuring outcomes has always been important to me.

In retirement, I hope to bring that same mindset to Christian schools and churches. My goal is to help these organizations measure what matters most, ensuring they are helping people grow in faith, compassion, and service. Education shapes the mind. Counseling strengthens the person. Religion calls us to love. Helping these organizations know whether they are accomplishing that mission is the work I look forward to most in my encore-career.

Supervisor: Felipe Lopez-Sustaita

What's your favorite memory of this employee? Do you have any other positive thoughts to share about this individual?

Jim is phenomenal. It has been an honor and privilege working with him the past few years. It is incredible how much of an impact one person can have on a campus. Jim is a superstar, he always comes to work with a positive attitude. I personally want to thank him for his commitment to our students, staff, and our overall community. We will miss him and we look forward to seeing how he will impact the world after he retires from LCC.