Dr. Kimberly Hurns is the new interim dean of the Business and Computer Technologies division.
Born and raised in Detroit, Hurns received a B.B.A. in marketing from Eastern Michigan University and her M.B.A. from Loyola University Chicago. She spent the early years of her career working in marketing and sales for technology companies.
“Although I was never a programmer I always worked in IT,” Hurns said. She views her lack of fear of technology as a real boost to her career. “I understand [technology] and enjoy it.” In addition to implementing marketing and sales strategies, she also managed new system implementation projects and led business development for computer software companies.
While she liked working in industry, she “didn’t love it.” She longed to engage in community service and help people. That passion led her to a part-time teaching position at Macomb Community College.
“I didn’t realize how much I would love teaching at a community college,” Hurns said.
In 2002, she accepted a full-time faculty position at WCC teaching business. It was her dream job. “I love this place,” she said. “Faculty know their stuff and students are grateful.”
Her first child, Kyla, was six months old when Hurns first started teaching at WCC twelve years ago. Since then, Hurns and her husband, Norman, have had two other children, daughter Rhyan (now 10) and son Norman, Jr. (now 8).
Hurns is no stranger to managing multiple priorities and responsibilities. While raising three young kids and teaching at WCC full-time, Hurns earned her doctorate degree in Management and Executive Leadership from Walsh College in 2012.
Given Hurns’ professional training and expertise in marketing, one of her goals as dean is to market programs in new ways to drive enrollment growth. In particular, she sees great opportunity to market programs internally to current students.
“Down to the department level, we should be thinking about how to build and manage relationships with our students,” she said. To Hurns, retaining students semester to semester and through to completion is not just good for enrollment; it is, first and foremost, what is best for students.
“There are great success stories here at WCC,” Hurns said. She is looking forward to working with her colleagues and helping departments and the division overall to “tell those stories” that explain the many exceptional ways that WCC serves and supports its students.