Nevada State College president leaving for Colorado post

The president of Nevada State College is resigning to take over a state college in Colorado.

"It has been a hard decision, but I am going to move forward with Colorado State University-Pueblo," Lesley Di Mare said Wednesday. "I'm extremely excited about this opportunity."

Di Mare, the interim president at Nevada State College since last year, said she was unsure how long she would be at Nevada State. She was one of three finalists for the presidency in Colorado.

She said she had widespread support from faculty, students and staff. "Frankly, it was a very difficult decision to leave Nevada State College, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart," she said.

She said she notified Chancellor Dan Klaich on Wednesday morning.

Klaich said the Board of Regents must meet to discuss how to proceed with a search for Di Mare's replacement. He said he suspects it will be a national search, which includes assembling an advisory search committee made up of students, faculty and community members.

Klaich said that Di Mare doesn't report to Colorado until early next year, giving the board ample time to name an interim president, if necessary, and find a replacement. He credited her for advancing the newer state college despite the tough economic climate.

"I think the No. 1 thing she did was taking the college to final accreditation," Klaich said. "To take a brand-new startup college to get to the point where they have final accreditation, to a stand-alone institution, is a huge undertaking."

Regent Mark Alden did not take Di Mare's departure lightly.

"This is a tremendous loss for Nevada," he said. "She's a diamond in the rough."

Review-Journal reporter Adrienne Packer contributed to this report.