Rachel Coleman
LIBERAL, Kan. — Seward County Community College has named David Hardman as SCCC Vice President of Student Affairs, following the retirement of Celeste Donovan. Hardman, currently the Vice President of Student Services at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colo., will start work at Seward July 24.
“We are so excited to add David to our executive team,” said SCCC President Brad Bennett. “Not only does he bring a wealth of experience in the many components of student services, but he also has a background in Kansas higher ed, from his time as an undergrad to working for K-State as a recruiter.”
Hardman, too, feels the Kansas connection. With extended family in Garden City, Leoti, and Lindsborg, he said the move to SCCC “feels like being home again. It’s exciting for my wife and kids and me to be in a space closer to family.”
A graduate of Bethany College in Lindsborg where he played football, ran track, and served as a Resident Assistant in the dorms while earning his bachelor’s degree, Hardman later earned his M.B.A. from Kansas Wesleyan. He worked eight years at Kansas State University Salina, in admissions, diversity and veterans’ services. He moved west to Trinidad State College as director of student life and housing and later as director of student life, recruiting, outreach and chief conduct officer. He has served as VP of student services at Colorado Northwestern for two years.
As Vice President of Student Affairs at SCCC, Hardman will oversee all aspects of student life, from housing, financial aid and records, to student advising and counseling, student life, enrollment management, and student safety and security. With the addition of student health and mental health offices on campus, Hardman will help establish critically important services that enable students to flourish and succeed.
“The role definitely does encompass my journey and incorporates all these things I’ve experienced,” Hardman said. “At the same time that a lot of it will be familiar, every college does things their way. I’m excited to see where I fit in, where I can contribute, where I can grow.” He added that “the most exciting part of this work is the opportunity to mentor students and help people do what they want to do with their lives no matter what they might have been told in the past. They have to want it and go after it, and higher education is a great way for people to grow into their potential.”
Bennett said that Hardman joins a team poised to vault to a new era in the Saints story.
“We’ve been talking about how 2024 is going to be the ‘Year of the Saints’ in terms of excitement, achievement, and breakthroughs for our community,” Bennett said. “As a society, we made it through a couple very tough years, and now you can feel the anticipation as we make improvements around campus this summer. I fully expect that same energy and sense of exploration to continue in every aspect of the Saints experience. David is joining us at the perfect time.”
