The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents voted March 3 to appoint Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe as interim president at WNC. Dalpe will serve as the ninth president of the college.

NSHE regents recognized Dr. Dalpes leadership experience and supported keeping administrative continuity at the college by agreeing that Dr. Dalpe should direct the college into the near future. Dr. Dalpe has served as provost, senior vice president, vice president of finance, and legislative liaison since coming to WNC in 2019, and was named officer in charge earlier this year.
I am humbled and honored to be selected for this position. Western Nevada College plays a vital role in higher education in our region, providing access to programs and services for our diverse communities. I look forward to leading the college, and its outstanding faculty and staff, to better serve our students, Dalpe said.
At the regents meeting, NSHE Chancellor Dr. Melody Rose presented overwhelming support for Dr. Dalpe as WNCs next president through conversations and meetings over the last two months with the faculty, staff and students at the campus. Chancellor Rose and several regents attended listening sessions with WNC faculty, staff and students, as well as community partners, foundation members and other stakeholders at the college.
President Dalpe is a highly respected higher education leader and administrator, Chancellor Rose said. I am confident his vast knowledge and understanding of Western Nevada College makes him the right person to lead the institution at this time.
As a result, Chancellor Rose, in consultation with then-Chair Pro Tempore Carol Del Carlo, proposed that the 13-member Board of Regents forgo a national search and appoint Dr. Dalpe as interim president from March 4, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2023. An interim appointment may be converted to a permanent appointment after one year.
Dr. Dalpe has more than 25 years of experience in higher education, with nearly 20 at NSHE institutions.
Prior to coming to WNC, Dr. Dalpe devoted 16 years to Truckee Meadows Community College in various leadership positions, including acting president, director of institutional advancement, associate dean and chief of staff, and dean of the technical sciences division. He also served as the interim executive director of legislative affairs for NSHE for the 2019 legislative session.
Dr. Dalpe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Photojournalism from the University of Connecticut; a Master of Arts degree in Journalism, Speech and Political Science from the University of Texas at Tyler; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno.