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New SRC President Has Ties to School

A person who graduated from Spoon River College and later worked at the school will serve as its eighth president.

Curtis Oldfield was introduced to the public during news conferences at the Canton, Macomb, and Rushville campuses. He will take office July 1.

"He brings (to SRC) experience in working to serve a diverse range of students seeking college transfer preparation, workforce training, and career enhancement," said Gayle Strode Blodgett, Chair of the SRC Board of Trustees.

One project he will focus on is the expansion of the Macomb campus. The school has planned to move its campus to the East Jackson Street site that currently houses the Community Outreach Center but Oldfield wants to take another look at the plans.

"One of the concerns I have is when you look at the growth of the Macomb campus, it still might not be large enough," Oldfield said.

Oldfield earned an Associate in Applied Science from SRC in 1995. He also has degrees from the University of Illinois and Illinois State University. He is expected to finish his PhD at Iowa State University this year.

Oldfield is a former Dean of Instruction at SRC and has also served as an agriculture instructor at the college and in the former Roseville School District.

Most recently has he been Vice President of Academic Affairs at Northeast Iowa Community College.

Oldfield grew up in Farmington. His wife, Pattie, also graduated from SRC.

Details of Oldfield's contract are not being released until the Board of Trustees approves the deal. The board is expected to do so at its April 25 meeting.

SRC said in a news release that current President Robert Ritschel will retire May 22.

 

Rich is TSPR's News Director.