Two decades of service

From dean of health professionals and nursing to vice president for instruction to acting president, Lita Burns has worn a lot of hats at North Idaho College.

“I have really good memories of connecting with students to help them be successful,” Burns said. “The faculty and staff here are incredible people.”

Now, after 20 years of service, she decided it’s time to retire from the school she so loves.

“I’m going to miss the vibrance,” Burns said. “All of that, it just gets you excited.”

Burns said one of her favorite days of the year is the first day of school when the students come to campus.

“They just bring the life back to the college,” Burns said. “You just see the hustle and bustle of students and the anxiousness in their eyes.”

Her other favorite day is commencement day.

“You see the success and the families come out, and they’re cheering,” Burns said. “They’re cheering like these students have just earned their Ph.D.s, that they just won the Pulitzer Prize, they’re conquering world peace.”

Burns said she loves how NIC really puts a lot into commencement because that moment of success means so much to the families and to the campus and community. Pre-COVID, Burns reminisced on how they celebrated from the bagpipers to the parade.

“We do it that big because it is really special,” Burns said. “The way the families come out and support their kids like it is the biggest day in their lives.”

Those are memories Burns said she loves so much about NIC.

When she left her position as dean of health professionals and nursing to move into her role as vice president of instruction, Burns said her colleagues presented her with a quilt. Each square represented one of the individuals who worked in that department.

“They wanted me to guess which square belonged to which person which was really fun and actually I was probably about 75% correct,” Burns said. “Some of them are so similar that it could have gone either way.”

While she's made friendships and enjoyed her time at NIC, Burns said if someone is reflective about themselves and what they offer, they realize when it might be time to turn over responsibilities and opportunities to others to instill new energy and regrowth.

“I’ve been at NIC for a really long time and higher education, like everything else, really has its seasons,” Burns said. “There really is a time for new growth.”

After two decades at NIC, almost 10 years in her current position, Burns said it was probably a good time to retire. She said losing her husband when he passed away last year was also a huge impact on her life, and it’s different and more stressful now without having his support.

With the changes NIC is currently seeing with the board of trustees, Burns said it was really hard to think about when to actually leave as she would never want to think she was abandoning her team or giving up.

“I don’t believe that at all, that I’ve done that,” Burns said. “But at some point, you just got to pick a date.”

Burns announced in September her plan to retire on Jan. 4.

Christy Doyle, dean of instruction, workforce education, said Burns has been an amazing mentor, faithful friend and a strong prayer warrior.

"Of all the female vice presidents I have served under, Dr. Burns has had the most significant impact on me as a leader," Doyle said. "She is not afraid to reflect her humanness in her care for others, nor afraid to have the moral courage to make tough decisions when others shy away."

Bringing back the Physical Therapist Assistant program and building the Meyer Health and Sciences building are two things Burns said she was proud to be a part of during her time at NIC.

Even after retiring, Burns will still be involved at NIC as she included in her resolution when she became acting president that she would be a part of the presidential search committee.

“I absolutely want to make sure that I had a spot on that because, again, this is my heart and soul,” Burns said. “I want this college to be successful for another 90 years and I think that really starts with how we select that leader.”

To start off her retirement, Burns said she plans to enjoy a summer off for the first time in 20 years, riding her bike and doing all the things people do in Coeur d’Alene in summertime.

“I’d really like to actually see the fall in Coeur d’Alene without having anticipation of making sure school starts,” Burns said with a laugh.

Later on Burns said she plans to return to Wyoming to be closer to her mother.

However, she’ll still have her quilt and memories of NIC to hold onto.

“They give their heart and soul for students here,” Burns said. “Just sort of this ‘We’re all in this together for the students’ mentality is what I will leave NIC remembering.”