January 13, 2021
Shamani Shikwambi will be responsible for Northland’s liberal arts, business, and Thief River Falls campus technical programs.
January 13, 2021 – At the start of the new year, Shamani Shikwambi began his tenure as Dean on Northland Community & Technical College’s Thief River Falls campus. Shikwambi will be responsible for Northland’s liberal arts, business, and Thief River Falls campus technical programs.
Shikwambi comes to Northland from Dawson Community College in Glendive, MT, where he served as Dean of Academics. Prior to Dawson, he was an Associate Professor of Education at Middle Georgia State University in Macon.
“Shikwambi has a diverse background with teaching experience at all levels and internationally, including over ten years at the college level,” asserts Northland Provost Brian Huschle, “His leadership experience includes serving as Department Head in the School of Education at Middle Georgia State College and as Dean of Academics at Dawson Community College, Glendive, Montana.”
Originally from Namibia, a nation on the southwest corner of Africa, Shikwambi completed his education in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and a master’s and Ed.D from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA.
“Even though I am originally from Namibia, the midwest is where I feel most at home in the US, and I am happy to be back in Minnesota,” shares Shikwambi, “I understand the values and have experienced and appreciate the geniality of `Minnesota Nice.'”
While exploring the position at Northland, Shikwambi was particularly impressed by the college’s programming. “Northland has put in a considerable amount of work developing well-defined pathways for their programs,” points out Shikwambi, “There are clearly defined liberal arts tracks for students to follow and specialize within an area of interest.”
Shikwambi’s focus areas include community partnership development and continued faculty development, with a core spotlight on student success.
“I grew up during apartheid,” shares Shikwambi, “When you have people that continually tell you, you are less of a person because of an uncontrollable circumstance–your race, your gender, etc.–it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. My entire career, I have been committed to helping students overcome those adversities and to realize their goals.”
“Dr. Shikwambi has a strong focus on student success and keeps this at the center of his work. He further demonstrates an inclusive leadership style that will assure strong academic programming by including all of those involved,” affirms Huschle, “He is genuine and personable and will build strong relationships in our community. These qualities are all central to Northland’s vision of providing an exceptional education that transforms lives and strengthens our communities, and will represent our values around equity, inclusion, global competency, and student success.”