Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Councilors discuss way forward for public art ... 'Project BudBurst' to track wildflower bloom times ... Homeless resource summit set for Thursday ... Councilors discuss way forward for public art ... 'Project BudBurst' to track wildflower bloom times ... Homeless resource summit set for Thursday ... HIGHER EDUCATION RCC's new leader focuses on building consensus Cathy Kemper-Pelle comes to RCC from Texas college Comment By Nick Morgan for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Nick Morgan for the Tidings Posted Apr. 2, 2016 at 3:50 PM By Nick Morgan for the Tidings Posted Apr. 2, 2016 at 3:50 PM » Social News Cathy Kemper-Pelle, Rogue Community College's sixth president, will come to the Southern Oregon school with a reputation for consensus-building. Kemper-Pelle, currently chief academic officer at Lee College Baytown, Texas, was selected by the RCC board in March to take over the school's top spot from Peter Angstadt, who is retiring. Board chairman Kevin Talbert said Kemper-Pelle was selected from a pool of four finalists, including an internal finalist candidate, drawn from 49 total applicants. The four finalists made presentations on what they thought were current issues and trends in higher education that they thought RCC should pay attention to. Talbert said the candidates' presentations were open to faculty, staff, students and the community. "The goal in our search was to be transparent, open and inclusive," Talbert said. The candidates met nearly 200 people during their intensive interview process, according to an RCC news release. Kemper-Pelle's presentation touched on four points: recruitment and enrollment through partnerships with area high schools; the importance of retaining current students; the importance of fundraising and grants to do "more with less"; and external partnerships with nearby universities and businesses. Talbert said Kemper-Pelle's presentation was an overview of trends that could fit well with RCC. He said any initiatives Kemper-Pelle would roll out would only come after hearing issues from staff and faculty. He said her intent is to come to RCC and listen. “Her reputation is she’s a person who leads by building consensus,” Talbert said. Talbert said RCC sought a president who could build on the school's strengths “The new president will be building on a strong foundation,” Talbert said. Talbert said selecting the president is perhaps the board’s most important responsibility. The decision was unanimous, but not easy because its choice included four strong candidates, including a strong internal candidate. “It was a hard decision,” Talbert said. “She has experience at multiple institutions.” "In the end, it was clear to the Board that Dr. Cathy Kemper-Pelle was best prepared and equipped to move Rogue forward,” he said in the release. Since 2011, Kemper-Pelle has been an institutional leader at Lee College, which serves more than 7,000 students in suburban, rural and prison settings. Talbert said Lee College has been nationally recognized by Achieving the Dream and The Brookings Institution among others. “We think that RCC could benefit from her experience with those,” Talbert said. She's a graduate of the University of Texas leadership program, which Talbert described as "one of the best in the country." “She really has excellent qualifications,” Talbert said. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. By Nick Morgan for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Nick Morgan for the Tidings Posted Apr. 2, 2016 at 3:50 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501