Without fanfare, Dr Randy Rhine was officially hired Tuesday by the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees as the 11th president at Chadron State College.

Rhine had been Interim President since the retirement of Dr Janie Park last May and was named as the choice to be permanent president by Chancellor Stan Carpenter in November, but that action had to be confirmed by the trustees. Even though Rhine was certain the trustees would do so, he says it felt good when they did.

Board of Trustees chairman Cap Peterson of Wayne calls Rhine “an excellent choice for president” who will make the school “an even stronger institution than it is today.”

Rhine began his career in education with 2 years as director of Adult Basic Education for the U-S Department of Agriculture in his native Arkansas, then spent 12 years in a variety of posts at the University of Arkansas in the Division of Continuing Education.

He went to Montana State University-Billings in 1996 as Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning…working under Dr Park, who was a vice-president.

He joined her again at Chadron State in late 2005…just a few months after she began her presidency, and became Vice President of enrollment and student services and director of college relations the following year.

No date has been set for Rhine’s formal inauguration as president, but it’s expected to be later this year.