Gabe Stark
Reporter

North Central Missouri College’s Interim President Jamie Hooyman is focused on keeping the institution moving forward while trustees search for a permanent leader. For her, the assignment is also a homecoming.

Hooyman began serving Sept. 1, following Lenny Klaver’s departure to become president of Missouri Western State University. Hooyman grew up in Trenton, graduated from what was then Trenton Junior College and later spent a decade in its administration.

“This place has my heart. It always has,” Hooyman said of NCMC.

She described NCMC as an institution in a strong position, supported by dedicated faculty, staff and community members. Her role is to maintain that progress while giving the Board of Trustees time to conduct a thorough presidential search, she said.

“My job is just to help keep us moving,” Hooyman said.

The interim president’s responsibilities include working with college leadership, monitoring developments in higher education and state funding and supporting the foundation’s work with donors.

Hooyman’s ties to the college began in childhood. Born in Milan, she moved to Trenton with her family in the late 1960s when her father became head basketball coach at TJC. He later served as a dean.

Despite that background, education was not initially her intended career.

“My dad and I kind of compromised. I said I was never going to go into education. And my dad thought that that would be a good fit for me,” Hooyman said.

She eventually studied education and exercise science at what is now Missouri State University, then pursued graduate studies at Northern Illinois University. Her early career included wellness programming and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation at a Texas hospital.

She later taught at the University of Central Oklahoma and earned her doctorate at Oklahoma State University.

Returning to Trenton to raise her three daughters near family led to a decade at NCMC, where she served as a dean and vice president. She then spent 10 years at Northwest Missouri State University, serving as associate provost before becoming provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Hooyman retired in December to spend more time with family. Returning to NCMC offered an opportunity to give back to her hometown., she said.

Trustees will determine the presidential search process. Hooyman said a January start could be possible, although May or June might be more likely.

For now, she said community support remains a strength as NCMC prepares for its next chapter.

“The community has always been so supportive of this institution,” Hooyman said.