"I discussed this with Dr. Haraway a couple of days ago," said Bill Dawson of Byhalia, who chairs the Board of Trustees. "I appreciate what he¹s done for the college and what he's still doing for the college."

Haraway vowed to help the Board in finding his successor if asked.

"I will assist the Board, to whatever degree the Board desires and deems appropriate, in finding a suitable successor as president of the college," he said.

Northwest has experienced tremendous growth under Haraway's leadership in terms of both enrollment and physical growth at its campuses in Senatobia, Southaven and Oxford.

Enrollment has increased from 3,278 in fall 1986 to 6,538 in fall 2003, a growth rate of 99.5 percent over a span of 17 years.

The Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center in Oxford was expanded by 31,000 square feet within the past two years, and a 47,000-square foot expansion at DeSoto Center in Southaven will be completed this fall.

On the main campus in Senatobia, Haraway's final year as president will be highlighted by the opening of the David M. Haraway Cafeteria and Conference Center named in his honor by the Board of Trustees. It is scheduled to open in early 2005.

While Haraway is proud of his tenure at Northwest, he said he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and children.

"My decision to retire is based solely on my desire to spend more time with my wife and family, and to be able to periodically travel to wherever my children end up as their careers develop and as grandchildren begin to come along through their marriages," he continued.

Haraway and his wife, Ellen, have two children: Neil, a student at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, and Lucia Nelson, a recent graduate of The University of Memphis. His daughter, Claudia, has taught at Greenbrook Elementary in Southaven for the past several years.