Lake Superior College President Dr. Patrick Johns has announced that this academic year will be his last as the leader of Duluth’s growing community and technical college. After 42 years in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, he will retire effective June 30, 2019.

Johns began his career in 1977 at Mesabi Community College, serving as financial aid director and counselor. He went on to become dean at Austin Community College and Worthington Community College before becoming president at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, where he served for 20 years before being named president of Lake Superior College in 2010. He is only the third president to serve at Lake Superior College since the merger of Duluth Technical College and Duluth Community College Center in 1995. Throughout his career he has served eight years as a faculty member, five years as a dean, and twenty-nine years as a president, including the past eight at LSC.

“It has been a privilege to serve in the Minnesota State system for going on 42 years,” said President Johns. “I have really enjoyed working with students, faculty, staff and community members throughout the years.”

Under the leadership of President Johns, Lake Superior College has seen a resurgence in recent years which has included years of stable and balanced budgets, growing enrollments, and new academic programs and offerings aligned with regional workforce needs including the opening of the LSC Health and Science Building in 2012, as well as the addition of the LSC Downtown Integrated Manufacturing Center in 2014 and the Lake Superior College Center for Advanced Aviation in 2015.

This fall semester, Lake Superior College is reporting the highest overall enrollment in over six years and was recently ranked among the top 20 community colleges in the nation.

“I was very fortunate to have been selected as president of Lake Superior College over eight years ago, allowing me to return to my hometown and work with so many great people to help fulfill the mission of the college,” said President Johns. “Thanks to the work of our dedicated employees and the support of our community, Lake Superior College is poised for continued success for years to come. It has been an honor to be part of this campus community. It’s a difficult decision to retire, but it feels like the right time.”