Rural Community College Alliance appoints WNC President to Board

Courtesy Steve Yingling, Western Nevada College

Western Nevada College President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe has been appointed to the Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA) Board of Directors.

The RCCA assists its member institutions in meeting the higher education needs and solving challenges for more than 89 million people who dwell in rural America.

“I’m honored and excited to serve on this board that aligns with one of Western’s main objectives, to provide access to higher education for Northern Nevadans who reside in our rural service area,” President Dalpe said. "As a community college, our job is to help students access and succeed in higher education. We are proud to offer educational opportunities to all students so they can learn, work and make a difference in their communities no matter where they live.”

Dr. Dalpe was appointed as WNC’s president in March 2023 after serving as interim president for a year. He has more than 25 years’ experience in higher education, with 20 of those years at NSHE institutions. He joined WNC in 2019 as Vice President of Instruction, and also served as provost, overseeing academics and finance at the college. 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.

Last fall, the RCCA recognized WNC’s Realizing Opportunities for the American Dream to Succeed (ROADS) pilot program for its innovation and access. President Dalpe accepted the award on behalf of the college at the Rural Community College Alliance national convention at Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles, Ore.

Learn more about RCCA at https://ruralccalliance.org/.