There is a new opening for president of Cerro Coso Community College that entails a process governed by the Kern Community College District.
According to Chairperson of the Presidential Screening Committee Greg Chamberlain, the screening committee is comprised of faculty, staff, administrators, a member of the community, and a student.
“The screening committee will review the folders, determine which candidates will be interviewed by the screening committee, and then we’ll hold those interviews,” said Chamberlain, “those interviews will be held April 17 and 18.”
After that, according to Chamberlain, the ideal candidates will have to be interviewed by the Chancellor of the KCCD Sandra Serrano and the Board of Trustees.
“The board ultimately makes the decision, ” said Chamberlain.
According to Chamberlain, the ideal candidate must meet the minimum qualifications, which include a Master’s Degree, senior-level experience, and an understanding of diverse backgrounds.
Personal characteristics include, according to KCCD’s website, “integrity, open-mindedness, creativity, self-direction, accountability, enthusiasm, ability to empower others, energy, and sense of humor.”
Although the process is confidential, according to Chamberlain, “Once the finalists are selected, they will actually hold some candidate forums out at Cerro Coso.”
It will be during this process that the potential candidates will be unveiled to answer questions given to them by the public.
Since the last president has been “reassigned to the district office as an associate chancellor,” said Chamberlain, Dr. Mary Retterer has been invoking the powers as interim president of Cerro Coso.
According to Retterer, the process of hiring an interim is not as long as hiring a permanent president; however, “it was a pretty lengthy interview.”
“Presidential duties, you do just about everything,” said Retterer.
“It involves oversight of all the operations of the college, of strategic planning working with the community, working with the district, and the chancellor, and the executive committee.”
Cerro Coso college contains five campuses in four counties, according to the KCCD website, which covers 18,200 square miles.
Although these duties can be hard, claimed Retterer, “it’s fun.”