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Ellis appointed to Northeast Board of Governors

Ellis appointed to Northeast Board of Governors

NORFOLK, NE – A man with years of experience in the banking industry is the newest member of the Northeast Community College Board of Governors. Donovan Ellis, Pierce, was named to the fill a District I seat on the eleven-member board during the board’s monthly meeting Thursday in Norfolk.

He succeeds Shirley Petsche, Petersburg, who resigned her seat in August. The position represents Antelope, Garfield, Pierce, Wayne and Wheeler counties in their entirety and portions of Boone, Cedar, and Madison counties.

Ellis said he applied for the board position because he feels he can contribute to the overall advancement and principals of ensuring that allows anyone who desires to seek a college degree has an opportunity to do so through Northeast.

“I am interested in all of areas of educational programming offered through Northeast. I want to offer fair and consistent input (as a board member) into developing the best educational opportunities for the students and the public in Northeast’s service area.”

He said community colleges, in general, are fundamental in their mission of workforce development.

“If these community colleges did not exist, many students would not be able to achieve the dream of a college degree. Higher education opportunities need to made available to all who want them and offered at an affordable cost. Community colleges do a great job of this.”   

Ellis earned an associate of arts degree from Centerville Junior College (IA) and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Northwest Missouri State College. He is a retired vice president at Midwest Bank. Ellis has served on the Nebraska Banker’s Association (NBA) Board of Directors and served as a NBA committee chairman.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Ellis join the board and look forward to his input as we work in creating higher educational opportunities to all citizens of our 20 county service area,” said Steve Anderson, Concord, District III board member and chair of the selection committee. “We are fortunate to have people like Donavan apply to serve and provide input in seeing Northeast move forward.”

Ellis said he would run for the seat when it comes up for election in 2020. He will be sworn in at the board’s monthly meeting in November.

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