This content was published: April 2, 2001. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC Board Selects Finalists for Portland Community College Presidency
Photos and story by James Hill
PORTLAND, Ore. – The board of directors of Portland Community College met on Friday, March 30 in executive session and selected four finalists to interview for the PCC president’s position. Dan Moriarty, president of PCC since 1986, retires June 30.The four candidates are Jess Carreon, superintendent and president of the Rio Hondo Community College district in Whittier, Calif.; Jack Daniels III, president of Central College of the Houston Community College system in Houston, Texas; Stephen Head, executive vice chancellor for Education, Student and Community Development of the North Harris Montgomery Community College district in Houston, Texas; and Joe Johnson, chancellor and superintendent of the San Mateo Community College district in San Mateo, Calif. Candidates’ visits are scheduled for Tuesday, April 17 through Friday, April 20 at PCC campuses to meet with staff and faculty and with the community. 
Carreon holds a doctoral degree in higher education from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in management from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to his position as superintendent of the Rio Hondo Community College district, he was president of Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., and before that was the assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction at El Camino Community College district in Torrance, Calif.
Daniels received a doctoral degree from the graduate school of psychology from the Wright Institute, and a bachelor’s degree in history and education from Huntington College. Before his position as president at Central College, he was the vice president of academic affairs at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. Before that, he served as the director of education development and as an assistant dean of applied arts and sciences for the Peralta Community College district, Oakland, Calif.
Head earned a doctoral degree in history from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in history from Lamar University. He was president of Kingwood College in Houston, Texas, and also was the dean of students at North Harris College in Houston before assuming the position of executive vice chancellor of the North Harris Montgomery Community College district.
Johnson holds a doctoral degree in higher education from the University of California at Berkeley and a master’s degree in labor and industrial relations from Michigan State University. Before his position as chancellor of the San Mateo Community College district, he was president of Clark College in Vancouver, Wash. Before that, he served as associate dean of administrative services at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, Calif. The April 16-17 and 19-20 candidate forums are open to the public and are scheduled for:Rock Creek Campus – 9 to 10 a.m., in the Rock Creek Forum, Building 3, April 16, 17 and 19; and in the Town Hall, Building 2 on April 20. The Rock Creek Campus is located at 17705 N.W. Springville Road.Cascade Campus – 10:30 to11:30 a.m., Student Services Building, Room 215, April 16, 17, 19 and 20. The Cascade Campus is located at 705 North Killingsworth Ave. Sylvania Campus – 2 to 3 p.m., the College Center Building, Conference Rooms A/B on April 16, 17, 19 and 20. The Sylvania Campus is located at 12000 S.W. 49th Ave.Following the forums, the board of directors will meet in executive session at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, in the Sylvania Campus College Center Conference Rooms A/B to select the next president of Portland Community College. Mike Hereford, vice chair of the PCC board, and chair of the 25-member search committee, said, "These candidates are all highly regarded community college leaders. The board looks forward to giving the community and the staff at PCC a chance to meet with them."Portland Community College is the largest higher education institution in Oregon, serving close to 100,000 credit and non-credit students each year. The 1,500-square-mile district has three comprehensive campuses, four workforce training centers, and holds classes in approximately 200 community locations. ###For more information, please contact Neal Naigus, PCC community relations manager, at 503-977-4122.
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 »