Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding a virtual forum from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, to welcome community input as the candidate search for its new president begins; a meeting of the presidential search advisory committee is taking place just prior to the forum, beginning at 11 a.m. The forum and meeting will be available via Zoom, and parties interested in joining can contact Zak Boone, vice president of college advancement, at zboone@cocc.edu to receive the meeting link.
The public will have the opportunity to speak to the presidential search advisory committee and share ideas about what qualities will best serve the college’s diverse district. The search committee will lead COCC’s national search process this fall, with the goal of recommending finalists to the board of directors before the end of the year.
“We welcome public participation in this process and encourage community members from across our district to let us know what their priorities are for this important community leadership position,” said Laura Craska Cooper, COCC board chair and chair of the presidential search advisory committee.
“The board believes we have selected a search committee that represents the diverse regions, interests, concerns and experiences of the students and the communities we serve,” Cooper noted. “But we want to listen to everyone who would like to comment.”
Preston Pulliams, president of Gold Hill Associates, a Mississippi-based recruiting firm that specializes in hiring executives for community colleges, is guiding the search process and will facilitate the forum. Pulliams, who formerly served as president of Portland Community College, partnered with COCC on its last presidential search.
Current COCC President Dr. Laurie Chesley announced her plans in June to step down from her role and retire on June 30, 2025, having served the college as president since July of 2019.
