OCC has interim president

Denise Whittaker, who retired as president of San Bernardino Valley College in 2007, has been chosen as the interim president of OCC. She will take over July 1, when President Bob Dees retires.

Whittaker will serve in the school’s top spot while the Coast Community College District conducts a national search for a permanent replacement, officials said.

Dees announced his retirement earlier this year, ending his 30-year tenure with the college to spend more time writing books.

The move comes during a time of transition in the district, which includes Coastline Community College (with campuses in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Westminster and Garden Grove) and Golden West College in Huntington Beach. Chancellor Ken Yglesias stepped down in late March for unknown reasons. Yglesias entered a settlement agreement with the board of trustees in closed-door meetings, which contains as one of the provisions a clause forbidding the two sides from talking publicly about the resignation.

In the meantime, Coastline Community College President Ding-Jo Currie has been acting as chancellor of the whole district while the Coastline presidency is filled on a rotating basis by vice presidents.

A search for a new chancellor is ongoing and should be completed around late October, said district spokeswoman Martha Parham.

“Our district is facing many challenges,” said board President Jim Moreno in a statement. “We know that Ms. Whittaker’s extensive experience will bring stability in leadership to the college.”

Cuts in funding from the state and an increase in unemployment and people wanting to go back to school has made it tough for many community colleges, and OCC is no exception. Dees’ successor will have to deal with immediate challenges.

“We have more students than we can serve, which means it’s going to be tougher and tougher for them to get the classes they want,” Dees said.

OCC hopes to have a full-time replacement for Dees in six months.