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Josiah Litant joins staff of Minnesota State College Southeast as Dean of Students
Winona and Red Wing, MN (October 18, 2018) -- Coming to Minnesota State College Southeast with more than 15 years of leadership experience creating change in education and nonprofit environments, Josiah Litant (Lih-TAHNT) brings a vibrant, innovative approach to student services as MSC Southeast's new Dean of Students.
"Josiah Litant has a solid record of building highly successful new organizations, programs, and services," said Larry Lundblad, MSC Southeast Interim President. "He is focused on the needs of students as individuals, each with a unique learning style and personality. We are very happy to welcome him to Minnesota State College Southeast."
Josiah holds a Master of Arts in Education from Goddard College in 2008 and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Hampshire College in 2004. With a lifelong passion for education, Josiah said he is driven by human-centered values. "Everything is based on student success, compassion, and empathy. We are here to support our students' entire learning experience at MSC Southeast."
Josiah is enthusiastic about being part of a technical and community college environment. "I am excited by the breadth of the programs here, from trades and technical to the liberal arts. Our programs are accessible and affordable, which means we have the potential to make a significant impact on the region and the lives of our students."
Prior to moving to rural southeastern Minnesota to be closer to family, Josiah co-founded LightHouse Holyoke in 2014. LightHouse is an independent school for middle and high school students, offering world-class, personalized education in Holyoke, Massachusetts. There, he recruited a diverse array of students, filled the program to capacity, and helped secure funding to keep the program accessible to students from all income levels. Josiah continues to serve LightHouse Holyoke in a consultant role, advising on issues of strategy, program development, business management, and finance.
In the previous ten years, Josiah worked in a variety of roles serving student needs at his alma mater, Hampshire College, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Hampshire is a small, private liberal arts college known for excellence and an individualized approach to education. Josiah was the Senior Associate Dean of Students at Hampshire from 2008-2014, creating and managing new programs and offices, including the Office of Student Conduct, the Office of New Student Programs, and a Student Life strategic assessment program.
"This is an exciting time at Minnesota State College Southeast. Many faculty and staff have a long history with the college; at the same time, we are beginning new programs and there's new energy coming in. This is an inspiring time to join the college, and I'm excited to be part of building the next chapter," Josiah said.
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About Minnesota State College Southeast
Minnesota State College Southeast is a two-year technical and community college that prepares students for a lifetime of learning by providing education for employment, skill enhancement, retraining, and transfer, to meet the needs of students and the community. The Winona campus opened in 1949, merging with the Red Wing campus in 1992 and updating its name to Minnesota State College Southeast in 2016 with the change of mission to offer both technical training and the associate of arts degree. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of Minnesota State. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.one.