This content was published: March 19, 2004. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Pulliams picked for top job as Portland Community College district president
Photos and story by James Hill
Hi-Res picture of Preston PulliamsPORTLAND, Ore. The board of directors of Portland Community College has selected Dr. Preston Pulliams as district president of Portland Community College. They announced their choice Thursday night at the March 18 board meeting. Pulliams, of Albany, N.Y., is currently vice-chancellor for Community Colleges for the State University of New York. In this position he oversees 30 community colleges and related activities. He will begin duties at PCC in June. 
Pulliams will oversee the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon, with three campuses, five workforce training centers, a student enrollment of almost 100,000 students, and a $130 million general fund budget. Pulliams will be PCC’s fifth president. "I am very honored and deeply appreciate the confidence of the board and the selection committee,"said Pulliams. "Portland Community College is an outstanding school with a national reputation for excellence. I look forward to coming to a great institution in a great city."PCC Board Chair Bob Palmer, said, "We are confident that Dr. Pulliams will bring strong leadership to PCC. His background, experience and his ability to forge partnerships are just what we were looking for in our new president. He is also an educator who will work hard for students."He added, "This has been an extensive presidential selection process and the end result could not have been better."Pulliams, 58, holds a doctorate in education administration from the University of Michigan, a master’s in counseling and personnel from Western Michigan University, a bachelor’s degree in social science from Michigan State University and an associate’s degree from Muskegon Community College. Before holding the position of vice chancellor position in New York, Pulliams served as president of Orange County Community College in Middleton, New York, from 1997-2003. Before that, he served as president of the Highland Lakes Campus of the Oakland Community College District in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and vice president for student affairs at the Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pa. He is currently a board director for the national American Association of Community Colleges.Former PCC President Jesus "Jess"Carreon left the college in July of 2003 to take over as chancellor of the Dallas (Texas) County Community College District. Since August, the college has been led by interim District President Jerry Berger, who retired in 2002 as president of Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »