For a decade, Ed Koster has been a driving force behind increasing enrollment, constructing new facilities and elevating the student experience at Southeast Community College in Milford.
On Nov. 15, he will leave behind a legacy of growth as he retires from his positions as the executive director of the Milford campus and SCC’s vice president of technology.
SCC President Paul Illich said, under Koster’s guidance, SCC’s comprehensive data structure is more robust and secure than ever. He said Koster has also facilitated more than $30 million in new construction projects.
Enrollment has increased by about 50% in the last five years and the number of students living on campus has nearly doubled.
"During his 10 years at SCC, Ed has provided outstanding leadership and a transformative vision for SCC's Milford Campus,” Illich said.
Koster led the charge as SSC Milford added two 152-bed residence halls, Prairie Hall and Meadow Hall, in 2019 and 2021. He also helped make it possible for the campus to welcome the Crete Carrier Diesel Technology and Welding Center in 2020.
The college is currently renovating Nebraska Hall, a 100-year-old building, to house the campus’s student services, testing and assessments and financial aid and administrative offices. Koster said the renovation is expected to be complete in spring of 2025.
After that, the school’s next big academic building project will be the Construction Technology Center, Koster said.
Koster believes the college’s recent advancements stem from its focus on two main goals: Reinvesting in the campus by building new residence halls and academic spaces and ensuring students were successful and felt they belonged.
Bev Cummins, vice president of program development and the SCC Lincoln Campus executive director, said Koster is incredibly passionate about using data and technology to make decisions.
“He is a tireless leader that always puts others before his own interests and needs,” Cummins said. “While he is precise and analytical as a decision-maker, his passion for the open-access mission of the community is what makes him an impactful and inclusive leader.”
After retirement, Koster plans to move back to his home state of Iowa and take life at a slower pace. He said he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and family. However, he said he will miss the people and students on campus.
Associate Dean Kevin Uhler has worked with Koster throughout his entire tenure at SCC Milford. He said Koster has always been growth-minded and cares about meeting students’ needs and expanding the school’s impact.
“Ed has done a really good job of trying to find that balance between focusing on the rich history of things that this campus has had and has to offer and things that we do well, and at the same time not being stuck in, ‘This is the way we've always done it,’” Uhler said.
Koster said his favorite aspect of working at SCC Milford has been the opportunity to leave a mark on students and the educational institution as a whole, and he said it has been satisfying to see the institution grow. He was mentored by one of his program advisors in college, which inspired him to want to do the same for others.
“We're giving back to the communities, we're meeting a need for skilled technicians in the state and it's just been great to see the campus full and busy and vibrant,” he said.
