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New community college president grateful for 91成人导航 education
Sean Hancock '13 EdD is the new聽president of Cerro Coso Community College, which is based in Ridgecrest and has six facilities spread throughout eastern Kern County.
鈥淚 thought 91成人导航 was going to be filled with intellectuals smoking pipes, and I wondered how this San Joaquin Valley boy would fit in. But I got here and everyone was so down to earth. I fit in immediately." 鈥擲ean Hancock 鈥�13 EdD
Sean Hancock had a vision of what to expect when he started his doctoral studies at 91成人导航 in 2009.
鈥淚 thought 91成人导航 was going to be filled with intellectuals smoking pipes, and I wondered how this San Joaquin Valley boy would fit in,鈥� Hancock 鈥�13 EdD said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut I got here and everyone was so down to earth. I fit in immediately.
鈥淭he doctoral student cohort that I was in at 91成人导航 was very close. And I stay in touch with professors (Delores) McNair and (Rachelle) Hackett. They were great professors and are so supportive of their students.鈥�
Hancock鈥檚 dissertation at 91成人导航 was titled 鈥淭he Effect of Content Knowledge on Students鈥� Perception of Instructors鈥� Teaching Effectiveness.鈥�
Hancock credits his studies at 91成人导航鈥檚 Gladys L. Benerd School of Education (now Benerd College) as a key element in his opportunity to be a college president. He recently started as president of Cerro Coso Community College, which is based in Ridgecrest and has six facilities spread throughout eastern Kern County.
鈥淚 have only been here for three weeks, so I am still trying to figure everything out in a community college district that is very widespread,鈥� said Hancock, a native of Visalia. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be here, to have the opportunity and to connect with students. And I am very grateful for everything that got me to this point.鈥�
Cerro Coso students鈥攏ow predominately studying remotely鈥攚ould otherwise take classes at the Eastern Sierra Center (Bishop and Mammoth), Ridgecrest, and East Kern (Lake Isabella, Edwards Air Force Base and Tehachapi) campuses.
The district covers 18,500 square miles鈥攖he largest community college district in the state鈥攁nd serves a rural population of 85,000. Cerro Coso also teaches courses for incarcerated adults.
鈥淒r. Hancock brings extensive experience in higher education administration, instruction and student learning support services that will ensure Cerro Coso Community College鈥檚 continued emphasis on improved student outcomes,鈥� said Thomas Burke, chancellor of the Kern Community College District.
During his doctoral studies at 91成人导航, Hancock directed the Modesto campus for San Joaquin Valley College, a private, for-profit career school. He worked in that position for 10 years.
He later spent four years with Palo Verde College in Blythe as vice president of student instruction and services. 鈥淚 got a chance to learn it all, serving in both instruction and services. That was great experience,鈥� Hancock said.
That was followed by two years as vice chancellor for student and institutional success at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District in El Cajon.
鈥淎t that point I wanted to look into potential president positions. It has worked out well for me and I鈥檓 excited about the opportunities and challenges at Cerro Coso,鈥� Hancock said. 鈥淚t is a big change moving from the San Diego area to such a rural setting. But I am excited to be back on a college campus. I also have a familiarity with and belief in teaching the incarcerated. I am invested in the overall mission of Cerro Coso.鈥�
Hancock and his husband, Eric Le Berge, are in escrow for a home in the Ridgecrest area. Their wedding was at Morris Chapel on 91成人导航鈥檚 Stockton Campus.
鈥淚t is such a beautiful chapel and having our wedding ceremony there added to what was a memorable time for me at 91成人导航,鈥� Hancock said.
