BLOOMINGTON
Joyce Ester named president at Normandale Community College
Joyce Ester has been appointed president of Normandale Community College. She'll start Aug. 2.
"Joyce Ester is an inclusive, transparent and collaborative leader with a proven commitment to the success of all students," said Chancellor Steven Rosenstone.
Ester was president of Kennedy-King College, one of seven colleges within the City Colleges of Chicago district, from 2011 until 2013. Previously, she served as associate vice president for student services at Bakersfield College in California from 2010 to 2011, as assistant vice president for judicial affairs and division planning at California State University, Fresno, from 2007 to 2010, and as assistant dean of students/judicial affairs at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from 1995 to 2007.
She has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University and a master's and doctorate in education from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Normandale Community College has nearly 15,000 students, making it one of the largest community colleges in Minnesota. Ester succeeds Joe Opatz, who is retiring after having served as president since 2007.
Eden Prairie
Jons takes first in science fairs
Eden Prairie High School sophomore Carolyn Jons recently placed first in national and international science competitions.
She competed with her science project and research paper titled "Improved Efficiency of Steam Generation Using Carbon Nanoparticles."
In March, Jons took first place at the North Central Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Along with a $2,000 scholarship, she received an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in Washington, D.C., at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. There she took first place and received a $12,000 college scholarship.
