REGION — Prompted by the resignation of MiraCosta College’s Superintendent/ President Dr. Francisco Rodriguez in mid-March, the school’s Board of Trustees acted by appointing Dr. Dick Robertson as interim superintendent and president.
That move came during the April 2 meeting, where the board also approved the hiring of an executive search firm to find a candidate to fill the position on a permanent basis.
Robertson has been with MiraCosta College since 1987, serving as vice president of student services.
“The board felt very comfortable with the appointment of an internal candidate to serve in the interim capacity due to the strength and experience of existing leadership at the college,” said Board of Trustees President David Broad in a statement.
Robertson’s responsibilities will shift from his current responsibilities to become the main liaison between the community and the college, according to Cheryl Broom, the college’s director of marketing and communications and public and governmental relations.
Robertson, 70, said he has no interest in applying for the permanent position, but added that he’ll happily serve out his appointment as interim president.
The details of the contract are still being ironed out, Broom said, and any change in salary for Robertson wasn’t yet known.
Broom said that Robertson’s previous position as vice president of student services will be opened to up the campus community to fill on an interim basis.
“So we’ll have somebody move into that, possibly a dean or a faculty member who wants a professional development opportunity,” she explained.
No search firm has been hired yet to find a permanent superintendent/president, Broom said.
A candidate could come from within the college, Broom added.
“It will be an open process,” she said. “The exact way that the process will take shape is going to be discussed at an upcoming board meeting.”
Sometime in either late April or early May, the board is expected to select the recruitment firm and to set the process on how the next selection will be made, according to Broom.
Rodriguez resigned his position after five years on the job. He will become the new chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District. His resignation is expected to become effective May 31, and will continue working until then.
