Campus News

Dr. Wolff retiring from Great Falls College effective June 30, 2021, after 45 years in higher education

Dr. Susan J. Wolff, CEO/dean of Great Falls College MSU, announced Monday she will retire effective June 30, 2020.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Great Falls College MSU CEO/Dean Dr. Susan J. Wolff announced her retirement effective June 30, 2021, at Great Falls College MSU's executive team meeting Monday.

"I have been incredibly blessed in my career," Wolff said. "And now it's time to give someone else the opportunities I have had. I thank President Cruzado and Commissioner Christian for bringing me back to my home state and giving me the opportunity to work as part of Montana State University, where I received my bachelor's degree in 1975. For decades I could not even imagine retiring, but the rest of life is calling."

Wolff also thanked the faculty, current and former staff, and community members who serve on college boards and have supported the college through the years.

"Great Falls College MSU truly is a gem," she said. "And it's because of the incredible talents, passion and drive of our students, faculty and staff and their remarkable dedication to helping improve one another's lives as we make this world a better place. I look forward to building on that momentum in the next eight months."

Wolff, who will be 70 in December, came to Great Falls College MSU in 2012 from Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles, Ore., after having worked at another community college in Oregon, one in the state of Washington and at Oregon State University on three different occasions. She also had her own business, Wolff Designs, after earning her doctorate degree from Oregon State University.

"Dr. Wolff has always cared deeply about students, about her faculty and staff and about Great Falls," said Montana State University President Waded Cruzado. "Her warmth and care for students as well as her vision to help them succeed will be missed. This is a bittersweet moment for all us."

Wolff grew up on the Johnson Tuning Fork ranch outside Hall in western Montana and attended Drummond High School before getting a home economics degree from MSU. She eventually earned advanced degrees in educational leadership and community college leadership from Oregon State University.

She came to Great Falls College because she knew the community had always supported the college, Wolff said. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about the two-year college mission, community and economic development by providing students the chance to find their vocation in high-wage, high-demand job fields or prepare them to transfer to four-year institutions.

Wolff has been recognized by industry and others for her incredible energy, developing new programs such as the renewable energy technology program at Columbia Gorge Community College, the third in the country and first west of the Mississippi. She did this work because the wind companies were importing workers from out of state when Oregonians needed good-paying jobs. In Great Falls, being part of the team that worked to bring ADF International to town was a big win for everyone in the community, she said.

"I connect deeply with this mission and am so proud of the work we do here," Wolff said. "Our students, faculty and staff do amazing things on a daily basis."

She also came back to Montana to spend time with her mother, Christine Johnson, who passed away in January just two months short of being 99 years old. Wolff plans to stay in Great Falls, where she serves on numerous boards and is active in Rotary and other community organizations.

"I'm in really good health. I know there are things I will continue to be involved with to create a vibrant community, but I want to travel, drive more back roads, write, take photos and spend time with family," she said.

"My goal has always been to be in good health and live to at least 100 years old."

She is bullish on the future of Great Falls College too.

"There is so much going on here, with the building of the dental clinic so we can accept 25 dental hygiene students into the program each year instead of 18," Wolff said. "And we're leading the way with a pilot program for the OneMSU Workforce Consortium by expanding our respiratory therapy program into eastern and southwestern Montana. Our work with business and industry is strong as evidenced through our customized training programs."

The dental clinic addition received $4.25 million thanks to wide bipartisan support from the 2019 Legislature. The taxpayers of Montana will be proud of how their dollars are being spent to provide access to high-skill, high-wage careers, Wolff said. She also is excited to participate in the 2021 legislative session to expand opportunity and lend voice for students of all ages seeking better lives for themselves and families.

"At Great Falls College, we receive tremendous support from both sides of the aisle as everyone can agree on the vital work we do for the local workforce and economy," she said.

That work is particularly important after the economy was shut down in the spring because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and is still not anywhere near where it was at the beginning of the year.

"I'm really looking forward to working with the legislators and the new governor one last time in this role to come up with solutions for Montana," Wolff said. "The Montana University System will play a big part in finding those solutions, and two-year institutions will be pivotal for helping jump-start local economies."

While her tenure with Great Falls College ends June 30, 2021, she is adamant she will return in July to personally sign all of the diplomas after spring semester, as she has done twice a year while at Great Falls College, after the registrar's office processes them.

"I have had the privilege of walking alongside our students, faculty and staff. One way to honor our students for the work they have done and the money they have spent is to take the time and to think of each one of them. They deserve a personal signature," she said. "It means a lot to me. It hasn't really hit me that I will be done after 45 years in higher education, but I imagine it will when I'm signing the diplomas and thinking about the futures of those graduates and all of the opportunities in front of them. I hope they are all as fortunate as I have been. My career has always been about providing opportunities for others, a trait I learned from my parents."

Contact:

Scott Thompson, Great Falls College marketing and communications director, 406-771-4314, scott.thompson@gfcmsu.edu