Celebrating a journey of innovation and leadership

Over the past three decades, Kolvoord has worn many hats at JMU. Initially hired to help expand the then-new Integrated Science and Technology program, Kolvoord played a key role in graduating its first class. His contributions have been vast and varied, from helping to develop the Intelligence Analysis major to co-creating the Environmental Management and Sustainability M.S. program in collaboration with the University of Malta. He also served as the interim director of the School of Engineering and was instrumental in founding the College of Integrated Science and Engineering.

Kolvoord, along with former ISAT and CS department heads Eric Maslen and Sharon Simmons, was inspired by a desire to create a focused, coherent structure that would support the applied STEM focus of its units. They envisioned a college that could grow and prosper with a clear vision and dedicated leadership. This vision led to the formation of CISE, a college that would nurture innovation and support high-quality teaching and faculty scholarship. “Our vision was to create a lean and compact administrative structure that would support faculty and student work and spur innovation,” Kolvoord recalled. “We emphasized high-quality teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level and supported faculty scholarship, especially student projects. We also focused on building our relationship with business and industry.”

Starting something new always comes with challenges. “Any time you start anything new, there is always resistance and some desire to hold on to what was,” Kolvoord said. However, the problem-solving nature of CISE’s faculty, staff and students made the transition smoother. The dedication of early staff members like Jeff Tang, Lyn Chandler, Kathy Lubkowski and Lynn Radocha (’18) was crucial to the college’s success. “These names are familiar to the college as they all still work in the Dean’s office. That longevity has been a key to our success,” Kolvoord said.

Under his leadership, CISE has seen substantial growth, including a 60% increase in the number of majors over the last decade, the creation of the IT major, and the establishment of the Madison Automotive Apprentice Program. The engineering program has been ranked in the top 20 in the U.S. News and World Report, and the engineering and ISAT programs have achieved successful ABET accreditation and reaccreditation. Kolvoord’s systems-thinking approach has allowed him to foster connections and create opportunities for collaboration across programs.

The dean’s experience has taught him the value of patience, empathy, and the importance of setting high standards. “As a dean, you get to see the best of what higher education can be — life-changing, opportunity enhancing, career-defining, and you also see humans at their most challenged,” Kolvoord said. “I think I’ve learned over and over the value of patience and empathy, but also the critical need to set high standards and strive for excellence. For me, leadership has never been about wielding power; it has been about exerting influence and being able to encourage and nurture.”

His most memorable moment was during the first CISE graduation ceremony. He encouraged the students not to let the naysayers get them down and to find a way to say “yes” when a technical glitch left them without a recording of the JMU Alma Mater. “I apologized to the students, letting them know they really did not want to hear me sing. A graduate listening to my recent advice reminded me to ‘find a way to say yes,’” Kolvoord recalled. What followed was a heartfelt, if not entirely in tune, rendition of the alma mater by the platform party. “We found a way to make it happen — something that’s been a consistent trait of CISE since its inception.”

While it feels presumptuous for Kolvoord to think about his legacy, he hopes CISE will become even stronger under new leadership. “The problems the world faces are becoming increasingly complex with each passing year. CISE programs prepare our students to be thoughtful problem-solvers who can marshal technology while considering the human element. It’s what makes CISE distinctive and what makes a difference.” He is confident that the new dean will take CISE in exciting new directions, continuing the college’s legacy of innovation and excellence.