'Career test' directs Bell to community colleges nationwide
Desiree Aguirre
Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: News
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The new president of NIC has been passionate about community colleges for a long time. Dr. Priscilla Bell campaigned to pass a bond for the first junior college at Tarrant County, Texas when she was 16.
Bell, 58, brings loads of experience from across the nation. She served as president of Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnston, N.Y., from 1995-2000 and worked at Highline Community College near Seattle from 2000-2006.
Joe Jacoby, drama instructor at NIC, was part of the 22-member search part, that helped find Bell after departing Pres. Michael Burke accepted a position at San Jose State.
"Dr. Bell values education and the mission of community colleges," Jacoby said. "As a candidate, she was among those with the strongest qualifications. I think she's going to be a good representative and strong advocate for North Idaho College."
Bell was born in Centerville, Tenn., and moved to Texas in the third grade. She said she has always loved to read, and when she was little, she planned on getting a 9-5 job that would enable her to come home, cuddle up in her favorite chair and immerse herself in a classic book.
Bell received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, focusing on biological science and experimental psychology.
"By the time I got my degree," Bell said, "I decided I didn't want to do rat research."
She relocated to Southern California and worked while researching career opportunities.
"I did a career search the way we teach our students," Bell said with a slight Texas accent. "I went to the career center and took tests to ascertain my strengths and weaknesses."
Bell rediscovered her passion for community colleges and found a counseling-psychology master's program with a professor involved in community college studies. She received a master's degree in counseling from California State University in Los Angeles.
In 1975 Bell obtained employment in the L.A. adult school system working with Vietnamese/Cambodian refugees.
Bell, 58, brings loads of experience from across the nation. She served as president of Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnston, N.Y., from 1995-2000 and worked at Highline Community College near Seattle from 2000-2006.
Joe Jacoby, drama instructor at NIC, was part of the 22-member search part, that helped find Bell after departing Pres. Michael Burke accepted a position at San Jose State.
"Dr. Bell values education and the mission of community colleges," Jacoby said. "As a candidate, she was among those with the strongest qualifications. I think she's going to be a good representative and strong advocate for North Idaho College."
Bell was born in Centerville, Tenn., and moved to Texas in the third grade. She said she has always loved to read, and when she was little, she planned on getting a 9-5 job that would enable her to come home, cuddle up in her favorite chair and immerse herself in a classic book.
Bell received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, focusing on biological science and experimental psychology.
"By the time I got my degree," Bell said, "I decided I didn't want to do rat research."
She relocated to Southern California and worked while researching career opportunities.
"I did a career search the way we teach our students," Bell said with a slight Texas accent. "I went to the career center and took tests to ascertain my strengths and weaknesses."
Bell rediscovered her passion for community colleges and found a counseling-psychology master's program with a professor involved in community college studies. She received a master's degree in counseling from California State University in Los Angeles.
In 1975 Bell obtained employment in the L.A. adult school system working with Vietnamese/Cambodian refugees.
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