Presidential Search 2024-25

Dr. Jeff Thies is excited about the opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills and abilities he’s gained over the last three decades in public education to the President position at Northland Pioneer College. His vision for the college includes increasing economic mobility for Apache and Navajo County residents, enhancing economic development for business and industry, and providing lifelong learning experiences designed to enrich the lives of community members.

To fulfill this vision, he will collaborate with internal and external constituents to facilitate a culture of critical thinking and evidence-based decision making, create and enhance positive relationships and partnerships, support the hiring and professional development of equity- minded employees, and continue to be a lifelong learner, embracing opportunities to enhance his abilities to effectively lead the college.

Dr. Thies has 30 years of experience in public education as a teacher and administrator. He started his professional career teaching middle school mathematics. After six years in middle and high school mathematics classrooms, he moved to Central Arizona College (CAC) and started teaching developmental and transfer mathematics courses. CAC is where he first experienced administrative work, leading his colleagues as a campus department head, district division chair, and Athletic Director. Additionally, he started participating in statewide and national organizations focused on improving the community college student experience.

After completing his doctorate in Higher Education with an emphasis on community colleges at the University of Arizona, Jeff sought and found an opportunity in Baytown, Texas that would expand his knowledge of higher education administration. As the Dean of Academic Studies at Lee College, he worked collaboratively with faculty, student affairs staff and administration, and students to impact student success through Dual Enrollment, an Early College High School, HSI and NSF grants, high impact practices, and transfer partnerships.

Hired by Pima Community College (PCC) in 2015 to lead the College’s Developmental Education Redesign, Dr. Thies worked closely with teams of dedicated staff and faculty to support significant changes focused on gateway English and math success. The efforts of the various teams to improve progress to and through gateway courses led PCC to a Bellwether Award in 2020. In the summer of 2023, Dr. Thies was hired to temporarily fill the role of Acting Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. During the 2024 academic year, he worked closely with the College’s Executive Leadership Team to move Baccalaureate programming back into the strategic vision of the college and set the Provost’s Office focus on efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, he worked with faculty and staff to reinvigorate the guided pathways initiative, and he supported direct reports in the Higher Learning Commission comprehensive visit preparation and Excelencia in Education efforts. During his time in the role, Dr. Thies was selected to participate in the yearlong Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents Fellowship.

Dr. Thies is highly committed to serving students through an equity lens, focused on access, completion, and post-completion success. As President, he will work diligently with student faculty, staff, community partners, administrators and the Board to strengthen Northland Pioneer College’s service areas through excellent education.

When not at work, Dr. Thies and his wife of over 30 years, Crystal, enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling with their three adult children and extended family.

His site visit will be Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 28 and 29.

View Dr. Thies's Resume

Dr. Doug Binsfeld brings extensive experience in academic leadership and a passion for fostering student success. Since July 2020, he has served as the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Upper Iowa University (UIU), where he acts as the institution’s chief academic officer. In this capacity, he has overseen the development and execution of academic priorities, resource allocation to support these initiatives, and implementation of strategic goals related to curriculum, budget, and program development. His leadership in accreditation efforts with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has been pivotal to UIU’s continuous improvement. Dr. Binsfeld is also guiding the development of UIU’s strategic plan for 2025-2027 to enhance institutional growth and innovation.

Before joining UIU, Dr. Binsfeld held several key administrative roles. He was the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Interim Provost at Northeast Iowa Community College, leading significant accreditation and assessment initiatives. His leadership extends beyond UIU, serving Minnesota State Colleges and Universities as the P-19 Interim Director of Collaboration (for dual enrollment) and as the founding Dean of Arts and Humanities at Inver Hills Community College. Dr. Binsfeld has demonstrated his commitment to aligning educational programs with student and community needs in each of these roles, promoting academic rigor and accessibility.

Dr. Binsfeld’s commitment to accreditation and educational quality is further reflected in over a decade-long service as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. In this role, he ensures that institutions maintain high standards in line with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation while helping them fulfill their unique missions.

Beyond his administrative work, Dr. Binsfeld has been actively engaged in professional organizations dedicated to advancing higher education. He has served on the Executive Board of Directors for the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), where he worked to ensure the rigor of college courses offered through high school partnerships. His dedication to quality education led to his election to the Council for Accreditation of Two-Year Colleges.

Dr. Binsfeld earned his Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education from the University of South Dakota, a Master’s degree in communication studies from South Dakota State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Spanish. He resides in West Union, Iowa, with his husband, Neil, and their son, Carter.

Dr. Binsfeld is enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring his expertise, values, and leadership to Northland Pioneer College, where he looks forward to contributing to the institution’s mission of serving students and fostering community development.

His site visit will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 29 and 30.

View Dr. Binsfeld's Resume

Currently, Dr. Von Lawson serves Mt. San Jacinto (CA) College as the Dean of Instruction for the People, Culture and Public Service Pathway, where he has overall responsibility for providing day-to-day supervision and leadership to the social sciences, career and technical education programs, instructional personnel, expenditures, and facilities at the San Jacinto campus. Dr. Lawson has program oversight district-wide across four campuses and a 1700-square-mile service area with administrative responsibility for degrees, certificates and economic workforce program development. Additionally, he is responsible for Umoja and the Child Development Education Center, and works in partnership with CalWorks, Eagles Landing, and the Food4Thought Pantry. Dr. Lawson has a strong background in the development and administration of apprenticeship programs, experiential learning, community/contract education, and economic and workforce development.

Dr. Lawson states emphatically that his greatest achievement has been as a father to his two children. He raised his children as a single dad from the time they were 4 and 2 years of age. And today at 32 and 30 years of age, he still thinks they are his greatest achievement.

Dr. Lawson’s greatest academic achievement is being the product of an HBCU (a Historically Black College and University). He attended Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma and states that had it not been for the brilliant professors, administrators, staff, and community members who all served as his mentors, he would not have an education. He is a staunch supporter of HBCUs and the difference they make in the lives of so many.

Dr. Lawson loves to travel domestically and internationally and has visited some 13 different countries and 45 of our 50 states. He has a keen interest in the African Diaspora as it relates to the descendants of Africans brought to this hemisphere as part of the slave trade to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, down to the southern tip of South America and everything in between. And he enjoys studying the cultures, histories, spiritual and religious beliefs and political foundations of those he considers his extended family.

He will be visiting the area on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 30 and 31. 

View Dr. Lawson's Resume