Central Oregon Community College is requesting community input as the process begins to search for the college’s next president. Current president Laurie Chesley announced her retirement for next summer.

The college is holding a virtual forum from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday to solicit community input. The presidential search advisory committee will meet before the forum, and the public are welcome to attend virtually. Those interested can contact Zak Boone, vice president of college advancement (zboone@cocc.edu), for the meeting information. Community members will have the option to share what qualities in a candidate will best serve the college.

The committee plans to search this fall and recommend its finalists to the board by the end of the year.

Preston Pulliams, president of a Mississippi-based recruiting firm that specializes in hiring executives for community colleges, is guiding the search process and will facilitate the forum.

Chesley has served as president since 2019.