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COCC's President To Retire Next Year

BEND, OR -- Central Oregon Community College President Dr. Shirley Metcalf will retire at the end of this school year. "This is the best window for the college to go through a transition. Our Board is stable, we have great leadership, this was a great opportunity," she tells KBND News, "And, this is my 47th year in higher education, so I think it's a good time for me to retire."

 

A native Hawaiian, Metcalf says she's proud to have brought the island ideal of Ohana, which means 'family,' to the school, "Our COCC family on our campus, as well as, we serve a 10,000 square mile district, they're all part of our Ohana. And, when our students come to us, I believe they become part of our family, too because, they come to a community college with their dreams, their aspirations, and we need to be there for them."
 
Metcalf came to COCC in 2011, after leadership positions at colleges in Hawaii and Washington. In 2014, she became the college's fifth president, and the first woman to assume the role. The Board of Directors has begun the search for their next President. Dr. Metcalf says, "COCC is an amazing college. Next year, we celebrate our 70th anniversary of being here in Central Oregon. I'm very proud of what I've been able to do and this year will be an exciting year for us, as we look to hiring our new President for 2020." She plans to pursue a leadership role with the Asian Pacific Islander Council.
 
Before stepping down July first, Metcalf  plans to continue work on the COCC's Title Three grant, developmental math and writing programs, strategic plans for metrics and measuring, and finish the accreditation process of the self-study opportunity. Click HERE to read the full statement from COCC. 

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