Sue Nelson To Retire After 38 Years at Napa Valley College

Sue Nelson, Napa Valley College’s Vice President of Instruction, will retire after 38 years with the college, effective July 31.

Dr. Ronald Kraft, interim Superintendent/President for the Napa Valley Community College District, said Nelson will be missed by the college's staff and students.

"It is with great emotion that Sue will be retiring from NVC, an institution and community that first met her as a student 40 years ago and which has had the honor of her continual and devoted service as a staff member since 1975," Kraft said in a letter this week to the college community.

"Since 2002, Sue has served as the college’s Vice President of Instruction," Kraft said. 

"Her dedication to the college and its students has encompassed positions across all sectors of the campus: Maintenance & Operations (1975-1984), Student Services (1984-2000), and the Office of Instruction (2000-2013)," he said.

"Very rarely does a college have the benefit of such a versatile and experienced employee in a senior leadership position and NVC has been extremely fortunate that Sue made the students of Napa Valley College her life’s work," he added.

Kraft said Nelson was a pioneering online instructor at NVC who co-taught the college’s first online academic class and actively supported the development of online courses and programs. 

"Sue was instrumental in bringing the Puente and Umoja programs to NVC and has been a leader in establishing the VWT Auxiliary Foundation, strengthening NVC’s STEM programs through the development of MESA and the HSI STEM grant, and working with NVC faculty to support NVC’s programs in the arts, athletics, basic skills, and health occupations," he said.

"Throughout her career at NVC, Sue has worked tirelessly to contribute to developing and maintaining a campus environment where high quality programs and services were valued and the viewpoints of all constituencies heard," Kraft said. 

"We have all benefited from Sue’s hard work, astute wisdom, and dedicated leadership," Kraft added. "Her sunny smile, positive outlook, and gentle kindness will surely be missed." 

Kraft said plans for the search process are pending Board of Trustees review with the college President. 

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