EMPLOYEE PROFILE

Name: Mike North

Title: Assistant Dean, Division Street Campus

Major responsibilities: They’re comprehensive, which I really enjoy. My primary responsibilities involve supporting students, providing instructional support to faculty, assisting with management of the facilities at Division Street and helping represent the College in the surrounding community.

Length of service at the College: 12 years. I began as an adjunct advisor in 1993, served as a counselor at Division Street from 1993-96, then worked at Hardin Valley from 1996-2003 in the same role. I’ve been assistant dean at Division Street since then.

Place of birth: Morehead, Kentucky

Family members: My wife and I spoil our two shelter dogs. Her family lives in Knoxville. My mother and father live in Athens, Ohio, and I have a brother in Hollywood who’s a musician/actor/comic (just depends on what gig is paying).

Something no one knows about you: I was a pipeline welder’s apprentice before I went to grad school—dangerous, rough work, but I got to travel all over the country, and I met some of the most colorful people I’ll ever know.

Greatest achievement or proudest moment: I finished my doctorate in May. But the real “proudest moment” goes to my wife—she finished her undergraduate degree after leaving school almost 20 years ago. She was admitted to graduate school in the University of Tennessee’s College of Social Work and will start this fall.

Favorite things outside work: Golf—I’m starting over after finishing my dissertation, so it’s frustrating. But it’s still a great game. And I rule the kitchen at home—love to cook. I went on a tangent this summer, cooking as many Mexican/Caribbean dishes as I could find. I want to travel there soon.

Most rewarding part of your job: I genuinely enjoy serving the College and want that to come across to staff, students and people in the community. When someone, particularly a student, tells me they feel like their voice is heard and appreciated, or that they feel good about studying/working here, that means a lot to me. But I have to emphasize that’s not just me—it’s from the effort that staff and faculty put in at Division Street, and key, helpful people I and others rely on at the College to make that happen – there are too many to name, really.

Most influential person in your life and why: My parents, Marty and Gary North. Mom is serving as dean of career placement for Ohio University’s engineering college. My father retired last year from two vice president positions at Ohio University, administration and finance. He grew up as a coalminer’s son in Kentucky and pretty much made it on his own, so if I accomplish half of what he’s done, I’m doing all right.

Favorite quote: “I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book.” —Groucho Marx