LAURA COLEMAN

ESCANABA — Laura Coleman, the longest-serving president in the 60-year history of Bay College, has announced she will retire June 30.

Coleman informed the board of trustees of her plans at its meeting Wednesday. She is the college’s fifth president.

“The Bay College team has worked diligently over the past 16 years to improve student success and stabilize our enrollment,” Coleman said. “Working with the teams at Bay College to help our students gain new skills and knowledge which will change their lives, has been inspiring and leaves me satisfied with my professional career. There is much left to accomplish. The Bay College team will stay on that path over the next nine months and going forward under new leadership.”

The board will select a firm to guide a national search for Coleman’s successor, which will include input from college employees and the community. Information about the process and timeline will be available on the college’s website.

Coleman was hired in July 2006, after leading Lake Michigan College’s Bertrand Crossing Campus as executive dean. She received her doctorate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia; her master of business administration degree from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Lake Forest, Ill.; and her bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois.

“Bay College, Delta County, and surrounding areas are most fortunate to have Dr. Laura Coleman as our president at Bay College for over 16 years. Her record has been most superlative. She has guided the college through many difficult periods, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Bay College was the only Michigan community college of higher education institutions to have an increase in students during the first year shut down,” Trustee Tom Butch said.

Butch said of key importance was her guidance of students to employment opportunities.

“She, while interacting with faculty, staff, administrators and board members, has always stressed the importance of ‘student success,’ first and foremost,” he said. “She has tirelessly pursued all the components of student success, from lobbying legislators for much-needed funds to personal guidance of students needing additional assistance to reach their goals.”