Dr. Ronald E. Nettles II is leaving the position he has held in Natchez since 1997 to become dean of college for Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He replaces Dr. Paul Johnson, who resigned recently.

After seven years as dean of the Co-Lin Natchez branch, Nettles will move to the main campus in Wesson later this month to begin duties that will include overseeing all academic and technical programs, research and long-range planning, community services and technology for Wesson, Natchez and the new Simpson County center expected to open in 2005.

Excited by the opportunity, Nettles nonetheless acknowledged he will miss the people and activities that have been a part of his day-to-day life at the Natchez campus and in the community.

&uot;I started here just about a year after this facility opened,&uot; Nettles said Monday. &uot;It’s been seven really good years. I have benefited from working with a lot of good people and the experience has prepared me for this move.&uot;

Gwen McCalip, director of admissions and records at the Natchez campus, will serve as acting dean during the upcoming fall and spring terms and will continue her present job. The search for a permanent dean will begin later this year.

&uot;Dr. Nettles will be only a phone call away,&uot; McCalip said. Like others at the college, she knew one day the popular dean would move up the ladder.

&uot;We knew with his credentials, personality and work ethic, we would lose him someday,&uot; McCalip said. &uot;We had a jewel. We’re just thrilled to be keeping him in the Co-Lin family.&uot;

Dr. Howell Garner, Co-Lin president, said Nettles is an excellent choice to fill the position.

&uot;He has a lot of good people skills and good education background, seasoned with a lot of quality experience,&uot; Garner said. &uot;We’re really fortunate to have people like this at Co-Lin to call on to play such a vital role in the college. We’re excited to have him in this leadership position.&uot;

Nettles and his family &045; wife, Rosie, a counselor at Cathedral School; son, Brandon, 9; and daughter, Jordan, 10 &045; will live on campus in Wesson in a home provided by the college.

The family lived in Wesson for three years prior to his appointment as Natchez dean. During that time, Nettles was director of community and economic development for the college.

&uot;I know so many of the staff and faculty there. It will be familiar to me,&uot; he said. &uot;But I will dearly miss the people at the Natchez campus, some of the best and most highly qualified staff and faculty I have met.&uot;

During his tenure as Natchez dean, fulltime

student enrollment

almost doubled, and the school initiated a number of community outreach programs.

&uot;One of our goals was to make the campus more accessible to the community, and we’ve done that through things like the Kids College, which is going on right now; Institute for Learning in Retirement; workforce development; and other programs,&uot; he said.

Nettles also became well-known for his community service, as he participated in Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Rotary and other service organizations.

The new job will keep him coming back to Natchez, he said. He has confidence in McCalip’s taking on the dean role and in the leadership of Kaye Harris, assistant dean of the vocational school in Natchez.

&uot;Dr. Garner took a huge chance with me when I was named dean in Natchez,&uot; Nettles said. &uot;And now he’s doing it again.&uot;

A graduate of Trinity Episcopal Day School in Natchez, Nettles holds a B.S. in political science and master of education in counseling and personnel services from the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1994, he received his doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of Mississippi.

Nettles said Natchez always will be home for his family. &uot;It is the place we always will come back to,&uot; he said. &uot;But I do have an innate interest in doing more, and this is my opportunity.&uot;