After 15 years of working as the Dean of Student Learning of the Languages, Library and Learning Resources at Moorpark College, Dean Inajane Nicklas is going to retire.
“Being a dean is very demanding,” said Nicklas. “I would like more balance in my life.”
Despite the stressful lifestyle, Nicklas has enjoyed keeping the college strong and successful since 2001. She has enjoyed working with the Learning Skills Committee, rebuilding the Math and Writing Center after a reduction of funds, as well as working with and helping people in various departments. She plans to leave at the end of this semester.
Besides her time at Moorpark, Nicklas also boasts over 25 years of experience in human development, management and counseling. She plans on working with a team to open a Community Counseling Center, where she will be a Marriage Family Therapy intern.
Nicklas said she chose to work at Moorpark because it was based more around community and collaboration, which works well with students. This became clear when she attended a conference on campus discussing upgrading academic programs and occupational courses.
“The student learning model was integrating academics, while being a part of a team that restructured the organization to move away from ‘silos’ to systems,” said Nicklas.
“Silos” are competitive and territorial environments, not as open as the system Moorpark follows, according to Nicklas.
As the dean, Nicklas has had to make countless difficult decisions such as laying people off due to budget constraints, or having to step up and work extra hard due to a low number of deans.
Some of Nicklas’ best accomplishments, in her opinion, include writing a $1,500,000 grant for the English as a Second Language, Math, and English programs, so incoming students are better prepared for college.
Nicklas also prides herself in hiring and working with outstanding instructors. She has observed that her professors are always engaging with their students and in sync with their classes.
Helga Winkler, chair of the World Languages Department, has worked with Nicklas for several years.
“Dean Nicklas is an outstanding person,” said Winkler. “She is a wonderful mediator and just a great person. I’ve gotten to know her very well.”
Winkler has worked together with Nicklas on many issues and has constantly noticed how strong Nicklas was at mediating and actually listening in all sorts of conferences. Winkler is among many of her peers that will miss the presence of Nicklas.
Nicklas is more than pleased with her time at Moorpark.
“If I had to do it over again, I don’t think I would change a thing,” said Nicklas. “I have loved working here, it is a very healthy culture that focuses on students instead of politics.”
