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When Mark James asked his family members where they wanted to live, they all had the same response.

“Both my kids said, ‘We want to go home to Kearney,’” James said.

Former Gov. Matt Blunt’s decision to not run for re-election sent his cabinet packing with a year’s notice. James, director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009, targeted his job search to the Kansas City area so he could move back to Kearney, where he and his family had lived from 2001 to 2005.

James started work as vice chancellor of administrative services at Metropolitan Community College in January 2009.

After Jacqueline Snyder’s retirement announcement in January 2010, the Board of Trustees named James as the college’s new chancellor, effective July 1, 2010.

“As higher education continues to balance financial challenges and increased demand for services, the board selected Mark based on his commitment to innovation, financial expertise, and his ability to understand and lead complex organizations. We believe his fresh ideas will continue to propel MCC forward,” David L. Disney, president of MCC’s Board of Trustees, stated in a press release.

James has worked in public safety and community service for more than 30 years. Over the next six months, Snyder and James will work with the board and other senior leaders to ensure a smooth transition, according to a press release.

James’ current role is handling the “nuts and bolts” of the college: accounting, budgets, finance, safety, facilities, etc.

“Now it will expand to incorporate all aspects of the college,” James said.

He said he has also been learning from the vice chancellor of student affairs and vice chancellor of instruction.

James said he hopes his connections in Jefferson City will also help him in his new job. State appropriations account for roughly a third of MCC’s budget, with tuition and property tax accounting for the rest.

“I can pick up the phone and call Sen. So-and-So or Rep. So-and-So who chairs a committee, and they’ll answer because they know me,” James said, noting he built relationships over the years. “It’s an important commodity for the call.”

One thing James hopes to do as chancellor is create a new revenue stream through business partnerships with corporations. He said that plays into both success for the college as well as the local economy. A place to facilitate technical training is attractive to many businesses. It already plays a role in the Northland, with MCC training Harley-Davidson Plant employees and Smith Electric Vehicle employees.

He also sees a place for more connections to Kearney and has talked to Kearney R-1 Schools Superintendent Dr. Bill Nicely about it.

“Dr. Nicely has a really innovative vision for this community,” James said.

He noted that not all students aspire to go to a four-year college.

“They’re ready to go to work now,” James said.

MCC can offer technical training or two-year degrees.

“Dr. Nicely recognizes Kearney produces, out of Kearney High School, a very skilled future work force,” James said.

There are opportunities like that throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area, including the Northland, James said.

James lives in Kearney with his wife, Debra, son, Austin, a senior at Kearney High School, and daughter, Jenny, a sixth-grader at Kearney Middle School.

James said returning to Kearney was a nice homecoming and he was glad to see his son rejoin teammates — some of whom James coached in Pop Warner football. He said that made the state championship more enjoyable.

“That was so much fun to come back to see the kids achieve the ultimate goal,” James said.

Jenny is involved in just about every extracurricular activity she can find, James said.

“This is such a great place to raise a family,” James said.

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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