Cedar Goslin
The Broadside

In 2011 the Dean of Continuing Education and Extended Learning, Carol Moorehead, will retire after 28 years of working at Central Oregon Community College.
Though Moorehead has been with COCC for 28 years, she has only been the dean of continuing education and extended learning for five years. She started out working in community learning when Sisters had a COCC institution, and since 1996 has worked on the Redmond campus in continuing education and extended learning. Moorehead said she was happy to take on the position of dean.

“For me, it was a great opportunity to more responsibilities and to learn about the college…that’s fun for me.” said Moorehead.

As dean, some of Moorehead’s responsibilities were overseeing credit opportunities outside of Bend, overseeing dual credit opportunities and managing College Now, a program that allows high school students to take college credits before graduating.

Moorehead has been considering retirement for the last two years in hopes of taking time to pursue some of her hobbies, something that has been difficult during her career.

“This kind of work is very all consuming,” said Moorehead

She went on to say that she looks forward to doing more cycling, including a ride across the United States that she plans to take with her brother in the spring of 2012.

Moorehead will be greatly missed by those she worked closely with.

“It will be so odd to be at the Redmond campus without Carol, but she has all sorts of things she likes to do. Her work load has just been incredible,”said Debbie Hagan, director in the adult basic education department.
Hagan, who has worked with Moorehead for three years, said that she was constantly impressed with how much Moorehead took on.

“They should look at splitting her position into several different positions.. it’s just mind boggling, her work load.” Said Hagan.

Hagan claimed that without Moorehead, she wouldn’t be in the position she is in today, and the trust Moorehead put in her gave the confidence she needed to really flourish. But Hagan isn’t the only person to be touched by Moorehead.

“Carol Moorehead is passionate about regional education and community learning and this dedication shows in all that she does. Carol is a superb mentor and manager of her large staff, always ready to engage people in ways that support their strongest performance and allow for their growth. Meanwhile, Carol’s responsibilities have been many, and no matter how busy she gets, she hasn’t overlooked smaller or in-progress projects. She has been a tremendous asset to the College,” said Kathy Walsh via e-mail.

Moorehead says that her proudest accomplishment is the work she has done on the Redmond Campus, which now has over 400 credit classes and 2,000 students.

As of now, it’s undefined who will take Moorehead’s place, or what her position will look like in the future, but Moorehead she is confident that the college will make an excellent decision.

“It feels like a good time to move on and let someone else take it to the next level,” Said Moorehead.