COCC sets series of community ‘meet and greet’ events for three presidential finalists

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Following the recent announcement that the Central Oregon Community College Board of Directors has selected three finalists for the role of president, the college is holding a series of meet-and-greets across the district, Jan. 22 to Feb. 7, to welcome finalists Angela Tos, Greg Pereira and Steve Erickson, and provide a chance for community engagement.

Angela Tos, Ed.D., currently serves as vice president of student services at Coalinga College. Greg Pereira, Ed.D., is the vice president for student affairs at Rio Salado College in Arizona. Steve Erickson, Ed.D., is the vice president of institutional effectiveness and technology at Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

“We are excited to introduce our finalists to Central Oregon, have them visit our campuses and meet college staff, students and community members,” said Laura Craska Cooper, COCC board chair. “This will be a great chance for the community to meet and ask questions of each candidate, and then provide written feedback for the board of directors to consider in choosing the next president of Central Oregon Community College.”

Schedule of forums:

Finalist Angela Tos, Jan. 22-23

Wednesday, Jan. 22

Bend campus, Boyle Education Center, first-floor lounge, 5-6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 23

Prineville campus, 1:45-2:15 p.m.

Madras campus, 3:15-3:45 p.m.

Redmond campus, Building 3, Room 306, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Finalist Greg Pereira, Jan. 28-29

Tuesday, Jan. 28

Prineville campus, 1:45-2:15 p.m.

Madras campus, 3:15-3:45 p.m.

Redmond campus, Building 3, Room 306, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

Bend campus, Boyle Education Center, first-floor lounge, 5-6 p.m.

Finalist Steve Erickson, Feb. 6-7

Thursday, Feb. 6

Bend campus, Boyle Education Center, first-floor lounge, 5-6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 7

Prineville campus, 1:45-2:15 p.m.

Madras campus, 3:15-3:45 p.m.

Redmond campus, Building 3, Room 306, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The board anticipates naming COCC’s new president this spring. The selected candidate will succeed Laurie Chesley, Ph.D., who became COCC’s sixth president in 2019 and will retire at the end of June.

For more information, contact Zak Boone, COCC’s vice president of college advancement and executive director of the COCC Foundation, at zboone@cocc.edu or 541-383-7212.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability should contact Caitlyn Gardner at 541-383-7237. For accommodation because of other disability, such as hearing impairment, contact disability services at 541-383-7583.