Press Releases

Press Announcements January-February 2019

For more information contact Mark R. Johnson, Staff Writer, College Relations.

February 22, 2019

COCC PICKS ITS TOP CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT
Please see: Dr. Laurie Chesley is chosen as top choice.

February 19, 2019

SCIENCE FAIR AT COCC HIGHLIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL MINDS
A spray-foam that plugs hemorrhaging wounds. The propulsive power of magnets. Examining connections between glucose concentrations and endotoxins. These and other original scientific research projects will assemble at the sixth annual Regional High School Science Fair at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 8, at the Coats Campus Center. Exhibits are open for public viewing from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

"We'll have about 50 projects this year," said Sarah Fuller, director of the event and an assistant biology professor at the college. "It's a real range, from a look at the effects of music on memory recall to examining nitrate concentrations in the John Day River." Area schools like the Bend Science Station, Trinity Lutheran High School and Grant Union High School are sending teams and individuals.

Typically about 18 qualifiers from each regional fair advance to the Intel Northwest Science Expo held at Portland State University (April 12). Oregon will then send two dozen students, including at least one project from the COCC Science Fair, to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, May 12-17, where some 1,800 students from more than 75 countries put their research findings under the microscope.

Occupations in science, together with STEM fields as a whole, are expected to grow by 13 percent between 2012-22, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "The fair gives us an opportunity to celebrate emerging science minds," said Fuller, "and to put a focus on the creative process of scientific discovery."

For more information, contact Sarah Fuller at 541-383-7556 or sfuller@cocc.edu.

IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY VISITS COCC FOR FREE TALK
Immigration realities in the U.S.—from the border wall to DACA status—are the focus of a talk by the deputy director of immigration practice with Berkeley's East Bay Community Law Center, who's visiting Central Oregon Community College (COCC) from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 8, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155. The event, titled "They Tried to Bury Us, They Didn't Know We Were Seeds," is free and open to the public.

Mindy Phillips will speak about U.S. immigration policies, their impact on communities, and the response strategies being applied in the current landscape. Phillips' office partners with the Undocumented Students Program at University of California, Berkeley, and she runs a program in Oakland that offers immigration services to students and families accessing school-based health centers. Phillips is a graduate of Brown University and Berkeley Law.

Call 541-318-3726 for more information. COCC's Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Latinx student program are co-sponsoring the event.

COCC OFFERS INFO SESSION ON HEALTH PROGRAMS
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Bend campus is hosting an information session on its Allied Health programs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, in the Health Careers Center, Room 230. The health programs covered will include dental assistant, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician and veterinary technician.

The session will include a description of each occupation, the typical clinical and administrative duties, as well as the certification or licensing required. There will also be a review of the structure, length and cost of each of the programs. It is not necessary to be enrolled at COCC to attend this session. Reservations are not required. For information, call 541-383-7420.

February 15, 2019

NEW LEADER FOR COCC'S SMALL BUSINESS CENTER
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is pleased to announce that Gerald A. "Jerry" Schulz will serve as its new director. Formerly the college's dean of Extended Learning, Schulz fills the position vacated by Steve Curley, who joined the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network last summer as its associate state director.

Small business is an operative part of Schulz's story. Before joining COCC in 2010, he and his wife launched and managed a private computer school in the San Francisco area, growing their business from a single classroom enterprise to a thriving school that included more than 50 instructors and a client roster numbering in the thousands, with major clients including Visa, Hewlett Packard and Oracle.

With offices in Bend and Redmond, the SBDC offers a business management program and connects Central Oregon businesses—start-ups and established enterprises alike—with a number of resources, such as no-cost advising, affordable workshops, financing options and market research. During COCC's 2017-18 academic year, the SBDC served 372 clients from the community.

SEE AT COCC: NATURE INSPIRES CONTEMPORARY WOOD SCULPTURES
The Barber Library gallery at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is exhibiting "If Trees Could Dream," the juniper-and-willow modern sculptural works of Ted Gladu, Feb. 23 through March 21, with a reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28. For library hours, visit cocc.edu.

Gladu, a designer and builder by trade, refers to the exhibit—a mix of freestanding sculptures and mural-style creations—as a tribute to Central Oregon nature and an envisioning of how trees might dream. "This is a reverie of many thoughts that I have had, an exploration of space and time, and most importantly, a tribute to the wild land that surrounds us in our environs," he said.

For more information on this exhibit, contact Marybeth Hamilton, COCC Barber Library, at 541-383-7425 or mbhamilton@cocc.edu. In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability, such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743.

COCC HOSTS NURSING PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding nursing program overviews at its Bend and Redmond campuses:

Bend campus: 9-10 a.m. on Friday, March 1, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155

Redmond campus: 5-6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, in Building 3, Room 306

Bend campus: 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 160

Nursing orientations are information sessions designed for students interested in COCC's associate degree in nursing. Sessions cover minimum requirements to apply to the program, how applicants are selected, deadlines and more. The formal presentation usually runs 45 minutes with plenty of time for questions during and after. Prospective nursing students are strongly encouraged. Reservations are not required. Contact: Kara Rutherford at 541-318-3741.

February 11, 2019

COCC SPECIAL BOARD MEETING–FEBRUARY 16
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will gather for a special meeting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Christensen Board Room in the Boyle Education Center on the Bend campus, 2600 NW College Way. The meeting will begin with an open public forum pertaining to the college's presidential search, where the community is invited to provide feedback, followed by an executive session.

The purpose of the special meeting is for the board to receive an update on a series of interviews and community presentations provided by the three presidential finalists, with the last one scheduled between Feb. 13-14. The board is expected to officially announce the college's new president in early March. For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

STATE EDUCATOR'S CONFERENCE TO INCLUDE PERSPECTIVE OF COCC LATINA STUDENT
Celina Anaya-Aguilera, a Bend Latina student in her first year at Central Oregon Community College (COCC), will be part of a student and staff "candid conversation" panel at the Oregon Council of Student Service Administrators' (CSSA) annual Student Success & Retention Conference, Feb. 14-15, in Portland. The conference of student services administrators—representing Oregon's 17 community colleges—is using the session to illuminate contributing factors that create success for first-generation community college students.

Anaya-Aguilera is a graduate of Mountain View High School who participated in COCC's college prep programs during high school, as well as the college's Latinx mentoring program. "She is highly involved in the Latinx Club and has volunteered for several COCC and community events," said Christine Walker, the college's Latinx College Program coordinator, who added that Anaya-Aguilera also works in the family's restaurant.

Nearly 1,000 students who enrolled at COCC for the 2018 fall term indicated they were first-generation college students, according to Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) records. For COCC's 2017-18 academic year, 11.6 percent of credit-seeking students identified as Hispanic or Latino.

For more information, contact Christine Walker at 541-318-3717.

February 8, 2019

COCC BOARD MEETING–FEBRUARY 13
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the Christensen Board Room on the second floor of the Bend campus's Boyle Education Center, 2600 NW College Way. The board will convene for dinner following the meeting.

The board of directors will hear reports on a series of topics, including the college's presidential search and North Lake county's status with the district. Also on the agenda is a legislative update. For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

February 5, 2019

FESTIVE FUNDRAISER AT COCC OPENS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
With an elegant meal and a mission to open doors of educational access, the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Foundation is hosting its annual fundraiser, Meal of the Year, at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, at the college's Mazama Gym in Bend. The event features live and silent auctions, with an original oil painting by art professor Bill Hoppe featured among the items. Tickets are $150 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10. For reservations and details, see themealoftheyear.org or call 541-318-3783.

"The Foundation offered $1.6 million in scholarship support this academic year," said Zak Boone, the Foundation's executive director, who noted that the figure was record-breaking for the organization. "And Meal of the Year is a huge part of our effort toward that end." The annual black tie-optional fundraiser, with a four-course dinner prepared by COCC's Cascade Culinary Institute, first started in 1978.

Even before that, Jack McCown, now a retired COCC math professor, was a staunch supporter of scholarships—he and his wife, Barb, a retired Bend-La Pine School District teacher, have contributed to the Foundation scholarship fund since 1976 and are the event's honorees. "We hope to use this esteemed honor to continue to showcase the amazing place that COCC is," said Jack McCown, "and encourage others to invest in education in Central Oregon."

"The McCowns truly exemplify the best of our community and what the Meal of the Year Award is all about," added Boone. "It's an unwavering support of education and its transformative effects for students and their families, and support for a range of causes across the region."

For more information, contact Zak Boone, COCC Foundation executive director, at 541-383-7212 or zboone@cocc.edu.

OREGON JUDGE TO SHARE HER IMMIGRANT STORY AT COCC
Multnomah County Circuit Judge Xiomara Torres will share her personal story of rising up from undocumented status as part of Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Season of Nonviolence, from 6-7:30 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Bend campus's Coats Campus Center. The event, "Once an Undocumented Immigrant & Foster Child: Now an Oregon Judge," is free; reserve a seat at cocc.edu/foundation.

Originally from El Salvador, Torres arrived undocumented in the U.S. at the age of nine. A child abuse victim and a foster care child, she overcame adversity and was appointed a circuit judge for Multnomah County in 2017. Torres brings a diversity to the bench not often seen in Oregon—or across the nation. A play has been written about her life; COCC's Latinx program and OSU-Cascades will be bringing the play to the college on May 16.

For more information on this event, contact Charlotte Gilbride, coordinator for the COCC Foundation's Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program, at 541-383-7257 or cgilbride@cocc.edu.

The national Season of Nonviolence runs from Jan. 30 to April 4 and honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahātmā Gandhi and others who believed in nonviolent means to advocate for human rights. Co-organized by The Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program and COCC's Latinx Program, with support from the Deschutes Cultural Coalition, Brooks Resources Corp, Associated Students of COCC, Associated students of OSU-Cascades and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.

January 30, 2019

WOMEN IN SPORTS BOOK EVENT AT COCC
Sisters and co-authors Alana Dusan and Jessica Mendoza—a Mountain View High School English teacher and an ESPN analyst, respectively—will discuss their softball-themed novel, "There's No Base Like Home," at Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Barber Library, at 3:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 6. This is a free event.

The young adult novel, centered on the sport of softball, will serve as a catalyst for a conversation on girls and women in athletics. Both sisters played collegiate softball—Dusan for Oregon State University and Mendoza for Stanford, later earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

"My excitement is to share this story with our students and community—particularly girls and women—who are passionate about competition, teamwork and perseverance toward athletic dreams," said organizer Amy Howell, Ph.D., program director for COCC's Early Childhood Education. "Overall, it's an identity story, and, as such, it's one that offers a connection for everyone."

The event is being held in the Barber Library's Children's Equity and Resource Center, which houses a collection of equity-focused and culturally responsive children's literature. COCC's Early Childhood Education program options include an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree, an Associate of Applied Science degree and two certificates of completion.

For information, contact Cat Finney at cfinney@cocc.edu or 541-383-7559.

COCC HOSTS NURSING PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding nursing program overviews at its Bend and Redmond campuses:

Redmond campus: 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Building 3, Room 306

Bend campus: 9-10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155

Bend campus: 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155

January 24, 2019

"GETTING STARTED" AT COCC
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is offering "Getting Started" presentations in Bend and Redmond for prospective students:

Bend campus: 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6, Boyle Education Center, Room 156.
Redmond campus: 4:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11, Building 1, Room 128.

This is an opportunity for prospective students—seeking a degree or to take a few classes—to meet with a COCC admissions representative for guidance through time-sensitive steps for enrollment, federal funding, choosing appropriate courses and the use of academic support services. Bend RSVP: 541-383-7500. Redmond RSVP: 541-504-2900.

COCC REDMOND OFFERS INFO SESSION ON HEALTH PROGRAMS
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Redmond campus is hosting an information session on its Allied Health programs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, in Building 3, Room 306. The health programs covered will include dental assisting, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician and veterinary technician.

January 23, 2019

COCC BOARD APPOINTS FORMER BEND MAYOR TO FILL OPEN SEAT
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors today appointed Dr. Jim Clinton, a former mayor of Bend, to represent Zone 5 of the college's district, one of two positions that covers most of the city limits of Bend.

Clinton will serve through June 30, 2019. The seat will appear on the May ballot and be filled by election. Clinton replaces John Mundy who resigned in December. A committee of three board members interviewed three candidates for the position this past week.

Clinton served as Bend mayor from 2012 through 2016, the final four years of his 12 years of service on the Bend City Council. He was born and raised in Lakeview and earned his bachelor's in physics from the University of Oregon, and both a master's and doctorate degree in physics from the University of California at San Diego. As a scientist, Clinton was president of Energy Science Laboratories, Inc., and owner of both Solar Energy Analysis Lab and D-Star Labs, a contract research and development company that worked on sensors and medical devices. He also developed and taught a class for solar energy technicians at a community college in California, and was on the faculty at the University of San Diego.

"Dr. Clinton showed us in the interview that he has true passion for our students and the work of COCC in the community," said Laura Craska Cooper, chair of the COCC board of directors. "We believe he will be a great addition to our board and be able to assist us immediately."

For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

THREE FINALISTS NAMED IN COCC PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors today named three community college administrators as finalists for the position of college president, whose tenure would begin with the 2019-20 academic year. Finalists will visit the Bend campus in February for two days of interviews and meetings. The three finalists:

Dr. Kimberlee Messina, former vice president and interim president at Foothill College in California, most recently served as interim vice chancellor for the San Mateo County Community College District. She will be in Central Oregon on Feb. 4 and 5. Messina earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in Spanish from the California State University at Sacramento. She then earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California at Davis. Messina taught Spanish at UC-Davis and, for 12 years, at Santa Rosa Junior College. She then served as a dean of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at Santa Rosa. From there, she moved to Foothill College as vice president of instruction and institutional research for four years, and then interim president for one. For the next two years, she served as interim vice chancellor of educational services and planning for the San Mateo district. She owns K.S. Messina, Equity in Education Consultant.

Dr. Tod Treat serves as interim vice president for instruction at Wenatchee Valley College in Washington. Treat was executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Tacoma Community College for five years. He is scheduled to visit COCC on Feb. 7 and 8. Treat earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in chemistry (concentration in bioorganic chemistry) from the University of Colorado. He returned to the University of Illinois and earned his doctorate degree in education. He taught chemistry for nine years at Parkland College in Illinois and served in a number of other roles there before being named dean of academic services, a position he held for five years. Following that, he was vice president of student and academic services at Richland Community College, also in Illinois, before moving to Tacoma in 2013.

Dr. Laurie Chesley is provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan. She will be in Central Oregon on Feb. 13 and 14. Chesley earned her bachelor's degree in English from Alma College and her master's and doctorate degrees in English at the University of Notre Dame. She taught English at a variety of higher education institutions for 14 years, including five years of full-time teaching at Northwestern Michigan College. She has 18 years of administrative experience, including interim dean of learning at Northwestern Michigan, assistant vice president for academic affairs at Ferris State (Michigan) University, dean of humanities at Montgomery County (Pennsylvania) Community College, and then associate dean and dean of arts and sciences at Grand Rapids Community College, before becoming vice president in 2015.

As part of their time in the region, each candidate will have a formal interview with the COCC board of directors and participate in community meetings in Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville. They will also have sessions with various employee groups on COCC's campuses.

The board hopes to name the new president by early March and have that person in place by July 1. The successful candidate will replace Dr. Shirley I. Metcalf, who has served as president since August 2014.

For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

January 18, 2019

COCC SPECIAL BOARD MEETING–JANUARY 23
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will gather for a special meeting at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Christensen Board Room in the Boyle Education Center on the Bend campus, 2600 NW College Way.

The purpose of the meeting is twofold: first, to appoint and swear in the board's newest member—representing Bend's Zone 5; and second, following an executive session, the board is expected to announce the names of the college's presidential search finalists. For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

January 9, 2019

COCC'S "SCHOLARSHIP DAY" A GUIDED TOUR THROUGH FINANCIAL AID
The Bend and Redmond campuses of Central Oregon Community College (COCC) are hosting "Scholarship Day," from 1-3 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 23, to help current and prospective students discover and maximize their financial aid options for the 2019-20 academic year.

The Bend campus event is at the Coats Campus Center; the Redmond campus event is held in Building 1, Room 128. Both are open to the general public—no registration is required. Workshops start each hour on the hour.

Both locations will offer valuable information on scholarship and grant opportunities, as well as specifics on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) processes, including all deadlines. For more details, contact COCC's Financial Aid office at 541-383-7260 or coccfinaid@cocc.edu.

COCC OFFERS INFO SESSION ON HEALTH PROGRAMS
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Bend campus is hosting an information session on its Allied Health programs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Health Careers Center, Room 140. The health programs covered will include dental assistant, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician and veterinary technician.

January 4, 2019

COCC BOARD MEETING–JANUARY 9
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9, in the Christensen Board Room on the second floor of the Bend campus's Boyle Education Center, 2600 NW College Way. The board will first meet for dinner at 5 p.m. on the first floor of the same building.

The board will hear reports on a series of topics, including a presidential search update, a presentation on OSU-Cascades by Dr. Becky Johnson and a report on the college's First-Year Experience program, funded by a federal Title III grant.

The meeting concludes with an executive session on legal counsel. For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743.

"GETTING STARTED" AT COCC
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is offering "Getting Started" presentations in Bend and Redmond for prospective students:

Redmond campus: 4:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, Building 1, Room 128.
Bend campus: 10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 18, Boyle Education Center, Room 156.