Joe Schaffer
POSITION: Since 2012, president of Laramie County Community College (LCCC), Wyoming’s largest college with a main campus in the state capital of Cheyenne, a branch campus in Laramie and two outreach locations. Since he arrived, LCCC has increased the number of credentials it has awarded by more than 25 percent. LCCC is one of AACC’s Guided Pathways 2.0 institutions.
PREVIOUS POSITIONS: Served in a variety of academic and administrative roles for nearly a decade at Great Falls College of Montana State University. At the age of 34, he was appointed the campus chief executive officer, making him one of the youngest community college CEOs in the nation at the time.
AFFILIATIONS: Serves as the chair of AACC’s Commission on Small and Rural Colleges, is a member of the National Advisory Board for the Center for Community College Student Engagement, and is president of the Wyoming Presidents’ Council. Previously served on AACC’s Presidents Academy Executive Committee, and the executive committee of WICHE’s Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders. He also serves on the boards of various community and business organizations, including Cheyenne LEADS, Wyoming’s leading economic development association.
EDUCATION: Associate degree from Bemidji State University, a B.S. from The University of Montana, M.S. in Technical Communication from Montana Tech, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from The University of Montana. Joe is a graduate of AACC’s Future Leaders Institute (FLI).
OTHER: Joe has worked in non-profit, municipal, and private industry, including owning and operating a successful Internet consulting and design firm. He lectures, presents, and writes on a variety of topics including surviving change, leadership, and educational policy. He presents frequently for AACC’s FLI, Future President’s Institute, and High Performance Team Training.