Central Oregon Community College’s vice president for instruction has resigned after less than two years on the job.

Charles Abasa-Nyarko joined the college in 2013. His last day was Friday, and an emailed announcement was sent to the campus community Monday.

“It was fairly sudden,” said college spokesman Ron Paradis, referring to the resignation, adding he was not aware of any issues with Abasa-Nyarko’s performance.

On Tuesday, the college’s interim president, Shirley Metcalf, announced Diana Glenn, who retired as dean of instruction in 2011, had agreed to fill the role on an interim basis through June. Glenn was a faculty member and dean at COCC for 25 years.

Vice president of instruction is one of two vice president positions at COCC and reports directly to the college president.

“It is a top role,” Paradis said. “As vice president of instruction, he’s the chief academic officer, which oversees all of instruction, which is about 50 percent of our budget.”

The position at COCC traditionally leads the college’s accreditation process, though Metcalf has led the process this cycle. Paradis said he would not draw conclusions from that fact.

In an email to The Bulletin, Carol Higginbotham, president of the college’s faculty forum, wrote faculty will work with the administration to minimize impacts from Abasa-Nyarko’s departure.

Abasa-Nyarko, who is from Ghana, previously worked at Bunker Hill Community College in Massachusetts, Gloucester County College in New Jersey and Baltimore City Community College. Before coming to COCC, he returned to Ghana to help with the development of a community college system there.

— Reporter: 541-617-7837,

aspegman@bendbulletin.com