Central Oregon Community College released finalists names for the current presidential search on Dec. 17 and is set to release finalist name on Jan. 22. Over summer term, Dr. Laurie Chesley, president of COCC, announced her plans to retire from her current role this summer, June 30.
The COCC board is incharge of selecting the next suitable candidate. The board also put together the search committee to help them secure the best possible candidates for the position. The search committee is made up of 16 members; COCC faculty and administrators, a current student, a consultant and five others of whom are involved in education throughout Central Oregon. Their jobs were to look nationwide to find applicants of whom they believe are able to fit the requirements and criteria needed for the position. To list a few; compatibility with the school and students, ability to meet the needs of COCC, strength in problem solving, and familiarity with sustainability.
After that is confirmed the members of the search committee compared and contrasted their members before presenting the choices to the board. The board went through and selected three finalists to now undergo the next part of interviews. The names of all original candidates is confidential but the three finalists have been shared with the public. This alphabetical list includes, Steve Erickson, vice president of institutional effectiveness and technology at Minnesota State Community and Technical College; Greg Pereira, vice president for student affairs at Rio Salado College in Arizona; Angela Tos, vice president of student services at Coalinga College.
The candidates underwent a series of public and private interviews on the week of Jan. 6, and is set to continue in the upcoming week of Jan. 13. Some of the interviews are open to the public and board members encourage student involvement and engagement with these candidates to help them choose the next suitable COCC President.
