President's Page

Nick Swayne is a nationally recognized leader in higher education and a decorated military veteran who has served as the president of North Idaho College since August 2022.

Under Swayne, NIC reversed a 12-year enrollment decline, rebuilt campus leadership, and is on the path toward restoring its accreditation standing. Priorities for his administration include strengthening workforce training, expanding dual credit pathways, and forging new partnerships.

Before joining NIC, Swayne was the executive director of 4-VA, a consortium uniting nine universities to advance collaborative research, course sharing, degree completion, and innovation across Virginia. He is also the founder of the JMU X-Labs academic innovation ecosystem at James Madison University, hailed as a national model of experiential, transdisciplinary learning that serves over 6,000 students annually.

Swayne’s two decades in higher education include leadership in academic program development, accreditation, recruiting, and retention.

Swayne’s military career in the U.S. Army spanned command and leadership positions from company through division level, including global deployments to Iraq and Bosnia. He managed annual budgets exceeding $200 million and supervised up to 30 direct reports. His military honors include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

His public service also includes four elected terms on the Harrisonburg City School Board, board leadership for technical and children’s organizations, and championing veterans’ educational success. His honors include the Noftsinger Leadership Award, two Virginia Governor’s Awards for Innovative Technology, the President’s Purple Star for Innovation, and the University Science Educator of the Year.

Swayne grew up in Moscow, Idaho, and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Idaho, a master’s degree in public administration from Northeastern University, and a Ph.D. in strategic leadership from James Madison University. He now lives in Hayden, Idaho, with his wife, Nicky, and their chocolate Lab, Stout. They have two adult children.

Dr. Nick Swayne is an accomplished higher education president, strategic innovator, and decorated military veteran. Since 2022, he has led North Idaho College as its 11th president, during this time NIC reversed a 12-year enrollment decline, rebuilt campus leadership, and is on the path toward restoring its accreditation standing. His initiatives in workforce training, dual-credit pathways, and affordable bachelor’s partnerships have positioned NIC as a regional leader in student success.