CGCC selects four candidates for college president

The committee first narrowed that field to 10 semi-finalists for remote interviews, then recommended four finalists to the college board. The board unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation March 1.

People will have opportunity to meet the candidates in open forums later this month. The candidates and forum dates are:

Dr. Leanne Frost — Public forums are March 8 on The Dalles Campus at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and March 9 on the Hood River Campus at 8:30 a.m. Frost is director of the General Studies Division at Montana State University, Great Falls, Mont. She received her Doctorate of Education in adult and higher education from MSU, Bozeman, Mont.

Dr. Sarah Thompson Tweedy — Public forums with March 12 on The Dalles Campus at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and March 13 on the Hood River Campus at 8:30 a.m. Thompson Tweedy, D.M., is vice president of Student Access, Involvement and Success at the State University of New York (SUNI) Weschester, Valhalla, N.Y. She received her doctorate of management in community college policy and administration from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Marta Yera Cronin — Public forums are March 15 on The Dalles Campus at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and March 16 on the Hood River Campus at 8:30 a.m. Cronin, Ed. D., is vice president of academic affairs at Indian River State College, Port St. Lucie, Fla. She received her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Sarasota, Fla.

Dr. Paul Jarrell — Public forums with Dr. Jarrell, assistant superintendent and executive vice president of Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, Calif., are March 19 on The Dalles Campus at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and March 20 on the Hood River Campus at 8:30 a.m. He received his doctorate in biology from the University of Oregon.

“The search committee did an immense amount of work to get us to this stage and we are deeply appreciative,” said Dr. Lee Fairchild, college board vice chair, who led the search effort. Gold Hill Associates, a national search firm directed by Dr. Preston Pulliams, former president of Portland Community College, helped identify and recruit candidates.

The successful candidate will become the third president of CGCC since the institution was established in 1977. With campuses in Hood River and The Dalles, CGCC serves seven counties in two states bordering the Columbia River Gorge.