Dr. Rick Aman served as the inaugural president of the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI), leading its transformation into Idaho’s fourth community college following a landmark 2017 citizen vote. Under his leadership, CEI experienced remarkable growth, increasing credit enrollment by 266% to 3,700 students and achieving over 14,460 workforce training enrollments by 2024. Dr. Aman expanded academic and career technical programs, developed transfer pathways, and strengthened workforce connections while managing a $25 million budget. Notably, he partnered with Idaho National Lab (INL) to provide degrees, programs, customized training, and industry-recognized certifications for Lab employees in the eastern Idaho region. Upon his retirement in August 2024, Dr. Aman was recognized by the State and region for his transformative contributions to Idaho’s post-secondary educational landscape.

With over 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Aman is a nationally respected authority on community college leadership, workforce development, and strategic planning. He currently consults with colleges and organizations, focusing on futuring as a foundation for strategic planning, and serves as a Leadership Coach for community college presidents and executive teams. Dr. Aman designs and facilitates leadership retreats, providing guidance on board relations and leadership transitions. He also contributed as an online faculty member for a leadership course, further demonstrating his commitment to developing future leaders in higher education.

Dr. Aman holds a Doctorate in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University and served as a U.S. Air Force Reserve instructor pilot for 21 years. His professional affiliations include key roles as an Accreditation Evaluator for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Idaho Commissioner for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), and board member of the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON). He also serves on the Idaho Falls Symphony Board, demonstrating his commitment to community and cultural development.

A prolific writer, Dr. Aman publishes weekly articles on LinkedIn exploring colleges’ preferred futures and innovative strategies in higher education. He continues to support community colleges and their leaders by fostering innovation, strategic visioning, and resilient leadership to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving educational landscape.