The College of Eastern Idaho has stayed in-house to hire its second president.

Lori Barber is expected to start as president on or about Aug. 1. Trustees at the Idaho Falls-based community college named Barber as president earlier this week.

Barber has been CEI’s vice president of academic and student affairs since 2019. Before that, she worked as CEI’s dean of general education.

Barber “spearheaded the development and state approval of two applied baccalaureate degrees” at CEI, the college said in a news release announcing her promotion. CEI is the only two-year school in Idaho that offers multiple bachelor’s degrees; the State Board of Education approved the CEI programs in December.

Barber also serves on the state’s Workforce Development Council, which administers the Idaho Launch postsecondary scholarship program.

“I am excited to work with business and industry leaders to ensure they have the exceptionally trained workforce they need,” Barber said in a news release. “I am equally excited to work with our four-year university partners to transfer academically strong learners to their institutions. I have a clear vision for how we can continue to grow as a cutting-edge institution.”

Barber will succeed Rick Aman, who is retiring in July.