Introducing Shirley Metcalf, COCC's Interim President

News archive - 2014-15

This September, Dr. Shirley Metcalf will become COCC's interim president for 2014-15. Metcalf currently serves as COCC's Dean of Extended Learning. She will take the helm in September as Dr. James Middleton retires with 10 years of service at COCC.

"Dr. Metcalf has proven herself as a quality leader," stated Bruce Abernethy, member of COCC's Board of Directors. "Both in terms of her experience prior to coming to COCC, in Hawaii and Washington, and in her roles here, we have seen her provide strong vision, leadership and caring for the comprehensive community college mission. She has experience in nearly all aspects of college leadership and that will be of great benefit as we continue to move forward."

Metcalf has been at COCC for three years, overseeing the colleges non-credit instruction and the COCC campuses in Redmond, Madras and Prineville. Last year, from February through June, she served as interim vice president for instruction following the departure of Karin Hilgersom and prior to the hiring of Charles Abasa-Nyarko.

Prior to coming to COCC, she held the positions of executive vice president for instruction and vice president for advancement at Lake Washington Technical College. At Hawaii Community College she served as dean of instruction (chief academic officer) and dean of outreach. Metcalf attained the rank of full professor in business and held a tenured position with the University of Hawaii System for 26 years. She earned her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Hawaii and her doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University.