Central Oregon Community College will have a new president beginning this summer: Dr. Greg Pereira. The current president, Dr. Laurie Chesley announced her retirement in June.
The new hire is the result of a national search that launched last year and was led by an advisory committee with faculty from various departments, students, the COCC board of directors, community members and a consultant, Preston Pulliams. Three presidential finalists were announced by the COCC Board of Directors in a press release last fall.
In January and February, the three presidential finalists, Pereira, Dr. Angela Tos and Dr. Steve Erickson, visited the college campuses, to meet with the community members, the COCC Board, staff, faculty, students and the media. Each candidate presented strategies, personal stories, experiences and ideas they would bring to the position.
The first candidate to visit COCC was Dr. Angela Tos, who approached the presidency with a relationship-building focus. She described a type of program, at her current workplace, Coalinga College, where faculty and staff would “nominate each other for these awards and we do a theme every year.” emphasizing that “it's really importan t… to celebrate the everyday wins.”
During the question-and-answer session with Tos, Helen Coate asked about her vision and thoughts about workforce training. Tos said this benefits the trades and it promotes growth in the community.
“The work that you're doing with the Madras expansion and creating new opportunities in healthcare and child development, that's really important. Those are some of the…fastest growing industries In the state,” Tos said.
Pereira, the second finalist to visit the college, also shared his humble and personal beginnings. He addressed the audience at the start of his presentation with “Welcome Bobcats.” A Milwaukie, Ore. native, Pereira said he had a “challenging upbringing.” He talked about worked for a non-profit, “at a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles,” after graduating with a communication degree. He said, “education was the key to escape the cycle of poverty.”
Steve Erickson, the third candidate to visit the campus,shared his thoughts while answering questions by the audience. Students had a chance to meet with each candidate at Coats Campus Center but very few students took part. Thomas Wrisley, president of the Associated Students Of Central Oregon Community College, shared his opinion on each of the candidates,.“With Angela Tos, what really struck me about her is her ability … to make personal connections with people.“
Wrisley said what he admired about Pereira was his striving for excellence. With Steve Erickson’s modified scheduled visit due to the winter weather, Wrisley had a chance to speak to him one-on-one for 15 minutes.
“I do appreciate … his background as an engineer and applying that mindset to problem solving.”
Another COCC student, who also attended the student forums, Raymond Salinas, had this to say about the presidential candidates: “I really liked all three, so I mean, I'm really happy with their chosen president. But again, I would have been happy with (any of them.)”
