Meet Concorde - Aurora CP Thomas Wicke

It's time to get on a Rocky Mountain High and meet one of Concorde's newest health care career college campus presidents. Thomas Wicke, Ph.D., came on board as campus president (CP) of Concordes campus in Aurora, Colo. earlier this year and has hit the ground running in his new role.

To hear him tell it, Wicke loves the "business" side of operating a health care career college. He enjoys facilitating the business side of higher education to provide students the highest quality health care training. In this chapter of Know Your College Presidents, we'll learn more about how Wicke came to his current role, how he views choice and consequence as the "law of life," his love of action movies and lasting contribution to the game of golf.

Let's meet Concorde - Aurora Campus President Thomas Wicke.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A CONCORDE CP?

My adult life has always been a curious mix of business ventures and academics. I love elements of both worlds. I've worked in sales and marketing in a few segments (business copiers with Canon and for a national Yellow Pages company) before owning my own consulting business. I put myself through graduate school in these positions with a plan of becoming a professor. I enjoyed the academic life getting published and on faculty before combining my two roles and entering the career college sector. I've worked at three other for-profit organizations before landing at Concorde.

WHAT'S BEEN THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A CAMPUS PRESIDENT?

I have the opportunity to promote and further education as my "business." I love being in a learning environment and helping facilitate quality education. There is nothing like being around students and working to make a campus deliver a high-quality education. Building a cohesive, fun and close relationship with staff is equally rewarding. We spend a lot of time together in an endeavor that changes lives. That creates a bond.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MAKES THE AURORA CAMPUS STAND OUT?

I'm still getting to know the details and intricacies of the Aurora campus, but we have an amazing staff here. They are talented and dedicated to the students. I don't know if that makes us unique (I hope all our campuses can make this claim) but it makes us outstanding. Over the past nine months, the campus has experienced a large transition in leadership. We are still growing together and finding our stride. As metrics are concerned, the student placement at Aurora is outstanding! The team here consistently leads the company year after year. Consistent excellence is difficult to achieve, and they've done just that.

WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER WERE GIVEN?

Here is one from an educational mentor: The law of life is choice and consequence. Latent in that truth is so much about relationships, accountability, success, management, integrity, and happiness.

WHAT'S A FAVORITE TV SHOW, RECENT MOVIE YOU'VE SEEN OR BOOK YOU'VE READ?

I don't have much time to watch TV, but I do love movies (Matrix, Bourne and similar are guilty pleasures). A less known but really good movie I recently saw is Lion (prepare to be emotionally affected). A great book chronicling World War II, and specifically the Nazi atrocities I recently finished was 1942 (warning: not a light read or feel-good story).

WHAT IS A HIDDEN TALENT, FAVORITE HOBBY OR LITTLE-KNOWN FACT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I love the creative process, be it writing books, product development or ideas. As an example, I invented and co-developed the world's first eco-friendly golf ball. This is a tournament-quality, playable golf ball. My creation is still on the market and going strong. Visit www.DixonGolf.com.