New Director Named for National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development

AUSTIN, Texas - Oct. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Experienced nonprofit leader Dr. Edward J. Leach has been named new director of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) in The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education.

NISOD offers professional development opportunities to community college faculty, administrators and staff and boasts members worldwide, ranging from large, urban community college districts to small, rural community colleges. As director, Dr. Leach will have strategic and operational responsibility for all of NISOD’s programs and staff, serving as primary liaison to community colleges and other stakeholders who support and benefit from NISOD’s activities.

Leach previously served as Vice President for Services and Programs for the League for Innovation in the Community College. He has almost 20 years of community college experience, including positions in instruction, student services and administration at St. Petersburg College, the College of Central Florida and Genesee Community College.

“After a thorough search, Dr. Leach was the clear choice for this position,” said Manuel J. Justiz, dean of the College of Education. “Not only does he bring the membership organization skills and knowledge needed to ensure a strong future for NISOD, but he also has experience working with community college presidents, staff and faculty; business and industry; government agencies; and other stakeholders.”

“NISOD has been and will continue to be the premier source of learning, knowledge, resources, education and ideas for community college educators,” said Leach. “I’m extremely honored to be chosen to serve as NISOD’s next director, and I’m committed to working with our staff, members, partners and other education thought leaders, as well as the College of Education’s faculty and researchers, to build on NISOD’s rich 35-year legacy of excellence.”

As part of its professional development support, NISOD provides its members with a variety of knowledge resources and learning experiences, including practitioner publications, webinars, the annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence (May 25-28, 2014) and the NISOD Excellence Awards. For more information about NISOD, visit www.nisod.org.

CONTACT:   Edward J. Leach, Director

         National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development

         (512) 232-1430