By Patsha Ramsey
The Scene staff
Roderick Nunn isn’t going to hide in his office.
Forest Park’s new interim president says he intends to be deeply involved with students.
“I plan on working close with student clubs (and student government) and just allowing them to see that they have a visible president,” he said in a recent interview.
Nunn, 45, has been seen eating lunch with students in the cafeteria. He also plans to walk the halls, introduce himself to students and ask questions.
“I will be curious to know their career goals and challenge them to meet high expectations in their studies,” he said.
St. Louis Community College Chancellor Dennis Michaelis named Nunn interim president in April after former President Cindy Hess announced she had taken a job as associate dean of communication at Tulsa Community College’s Southwest Campus.
Nunn had been serving as STLCC’s vice chancellor of economic development since 2008. He started the job at Forest Park on May 14.
“Dr. Nunn was a stand-out (among candidates),” Michaelis said in April. “To me, he was a fairly obvious choice.”
Past associates have high praise for Nunn.
Michael K. Holmes, 50, worked with him six years ago when Holmes was manager of STLCC community outreach and Harrison Education Center.
Holmes now is executive director of the St. Louis Agency on Employment and Training.
“Roderick Nunn is a thinker outside of the box,” he said. “He’s not traditional.”
Holmes said that while he and Nunn didn’t always agree, Nunn had a unique way of explaining the reasons for his decisions, which turned out well.
Holmes said he was inspired by the goals Nunn had for Forest Park: keeping close relationships with students, improving the graduation rate and helping students find jobs.
“(Nunn is) a great guy, and he works hard,” Holmes said, recalling it amused him that Nunn wanted to work on a holiday.
Charlene Nunley, 53, professor of administration at the University of Maryland University College, taught Nunn when he was studying for his doctorate.
She described it as a “wonderful experience.”
“He was very diligent, thoughtful and always helpful to his colleague students,” Nunley said. “He is the best of the best.”
Nunn grew up in East St. Louis, graduating from Lincoln Senior High School in 1986. Lincoln had a world-renowned band program, where he found his musical talent.
Nunn played trombone and piano in school concert and jazz bands and at his hometown church, starting in fifth grade. He especially admired his high-school jazz band director, Ron Carter.
“He was one of those people who expected more than what most people expected of his students,” Nunn said. “He encouraged us to dream big about our future.”
Carter’s “spirit of excellence” motivated Nunn to win a state music-composition contest his junior year in high school. He went on to earn a bachelor’s in music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1993 and a master’s in public administration at University of Illinois Springfield in 1996.
Nunn directed public workforce systems for three governors in Missouri and Illinois before joining STLCC. He earned a doctorate of management with a focus on community colleges at the University of Maryland University College in 2012.
One of the things Nunn has learned is the importance of being a good listener.
“It has nothing to do with the authority, but the service you give to people,” he said.
Nunn has been married to wife Ramona for 19 years. They have two sons, Joshua, 15, and Judah, 12.
Ramona Nunn formerly worked in human services and now is employed in probation and parole for the City of St. Louis. Nunn considers her one of his mentors, along with his parents and teachers.
Nunn has made use of his leadership skills as head of a Boy Scout troop of low-income youths and volunteered with youth sports organizations.
In college, he belonged to Omega Psi Phi fraternity, leaving him with purple and gold as his favorite colors.
Nunn believes that the ideal leader is someone who is “compassionate and shows great concern for those they’re leading.”
In April, Michaelis said there is no timeline for naming a permanent president. In the meantime, Nunn plans to “shape things up” on campus.
“I want to make sure that every student who comes to Forest Park has a world-class experience,” he said.