Delta College’s leadership team announced the appointment of Dr. Ski VanderLaan as
the new dean of Occupational Programs and Workforce Strategies.
Dr. Ski VanderLaan has over 27 years of experience in higher education and 10 years
of industry experience in workforce strategies, faculty development and leadership
in academic innovation. After seven years at New Mexico State University, Dr. VanderLaan
brought her passion for higher education to Delta College as a full-time faculty member.
In addition to teaching, she has served the college in various leadership capacities
from Director of eLearning to President of the Delta College Faculty Association.
“I wanted to come around to the administrative side of things to help faculty and
serve students by keeping them informed as we go through making decisions and processes,”
shared Dr. VanderLaan. “I have a unique faculty perspective. I want to be able to
use that perspective to give voice to potential impacts and help strengthen those
relationships to ensure we have the best environment for students to learn.”
Dr. VanderLaan earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Regis University, her
master’s in accountancy from New Mexico State University and her doctorate’s degree
in post-secondary and adult education from Capella University. “I look forward to
working with Ski in creating seamless pathways for students with easy access to workforce
training, short term certificates, one-year certificates and associate’s degrees,”
says Dr. Reva Curry, VP of Instructional and Learning Services. “Her leadership will
undoubtedly help students realize their academic and career goals.”
In this new role, Dr. VanderLaan oversees the Division of Business and Technology,
the Division of Health and Wellness and the Workforce Strategies Department. “We're
going to start strategizing innovative ways on how we might integrate those three
units for students to get a richer learning experience and be prepared for what's
coming in the workforce,” shares Dr. VanderLaan. “We’re utilizing the insights provided
by data analytics to identify the needs for future careers, because if you’re only
focusing on current careers, you’re already behind the curve.”
As a first-generation college student herself, Dr. VanderLaan understands, first-hand,
the varying needs of Delta’s student population. From prospective students to graduates,
she aims to uphold the community college mission of providing accessible pathways
to career opportunities for all.
