For George Sehi, success at Sinclair Community College does start here.
Sehi first started at Sinclair in 1986 as a chairman and professor of Engineering and then became a dean in 1993 under the Engineering and Industrial Technologies division. Within that time he established himself by being responsible for the total operation of the division. He served over 2,000 students each quarter while also administering 185 staff members with a budget of $10 million dollars.
Even after 26 years, Sehi is still optimistic and giving his full support, while expecting nothing less but the best at the college.
When the Clarion asked him in September of 1986 what his goals for the future were, he replied, “I want not only to train, but to educate students.”
Twenty-six years later, Sehi is confident he has made a difference.
“I know I have made a positive impact in the life of at least a few students, and for me that’s satisfying,” he said.
Sehi is now retiring from being the founding executive dean at the Courseview Campus in Mason after five years. During his time at Courseview, he was responsible for building and leading the campus in areas such as program development, community and industry outreach, university outreach and partnership, fundraising and also high school involvement around the area.
Traveling to America from Iran when he was 16, Sehi said was given a great opportunity. His parents told him that they wanted him to come to the United States to get the best education in the world.
“I am a firm believer that if I as a foreign student—who couldn’t speak fluent English with only $500 in my pocket when I came here—can make it to where I am today, the only excuse you have if you can’t make it as a student is that you have not tried hard enough,” Sehi said.
Sehi’s mindset when coming to America was exactly that, to get educated. Unable to work more than 20 hours a week under immigration policy, he lived in an efficiency apartment with two other people.
Looking back at a successful career, Sehi is proud of all his life decisions that it made him appreciate what he has currently in life.
“I drove a cab in the summer, worked as a cook, was a dishwasher and a busboy,” he said.
“I realized if you put your mind to it that you can go all the way to the top, which allowed me to be where I am today,” Sehi said. “It allowed me further understand and help students.”
Sehi is a strong supporter of the community and has been a board member affiliated with Otterbein Homes Cooperate Board, the Mason/Deerfield Arts Alliance, Warren County Area Progress Council and the Northeast Chamber of Commerce.
“Understanding need in the community is the key to success,” he said.
Having a strong understanding for how people can work together is one of the reasons he thinks Sinclair is successful. “My understanding of Sinclair and the system, how it operates was absolutely instrumental in making things work.”
The environment that Sinclair has provided for Sehi has been one that he felt he could work with throughout the years. Sinclair provided Sehi a high- risk, high- reward system which allowed him to be considered as an innovator of the year finalist in 1989, 90 and 91. He was constantly looking for new ways to develop Sinclair.
“I have always wanted to be a college professor, I ended up in education not by accident; I wanted to be an educator,” Sehi said. “If I could do it all over again, I would do it exactly the same.”
“He definitely strives for excellence,” said Suzanne Roberts, Sehi’s administrative assistant.
In his final weeks at the Courseview Campus he wants to make sure to recognize the people around him that have helped make the college what it is today.
“I want to express what a good job they have done and how I appreciate their work,” he said. “It’s been 26 years of going to work every day and thinking that I am fortunate and I love my job.”
When he retires Sehi plans to take some time off to travel and leave his options open.
“I want to take a couple months off, reflect and decide what I want to do next,” Sehi said.
Sehi’s replacement as Executive Dean is currently unknown. His last day at the Courseview Campus is Friday, Sept. 28.
“I doubt George Sehi went anywhere without thinking about Sinclair. He is very talented at leveraging resources, including his community connections and friendships, for the good of the Courseview campus,” said Dr. Susan Brown, student success advisor. “His work will positively impact students for many, many years.”