Randy Lawrence, the current vice president of instruction at Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash., has accepted the position and will become the sixth superintendent/president at College of the Siskiyous.
Lawrence was one of five finalists to replace David Pelham. The decision to offer the job to Lawrence came down to getting the right fit, according to Peggy Moore, who has been serving as interim superintendent/president.
“We don’t send anyone to the board who can’t do the job,” said Moore. “So it’s about who can do the best job for the community.”
Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Music degree in composition and music education from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio.
He has also completed all the coursework, written and oral exams, thesis proposal and approval toward a Ph.D. in music from the University of Cincinnati. 
Lawrence has served in his current capacity at Olympic College for five and a half years. Before that he was the Dean of Social Science and Humanities. He previously taught college-level courses in music appreciation, fundamentals of music, music theory, and early instruments.
Moore said the board was looking for someone with broad experience who understands campus program development and foundations, can develop strong ties to the community, and has experience in economic and workforce development.
“We were looking for skill sets, and he is strong in all these areas,” she said.
The COS board will lay out some basic goals they are looking at, not the least of which is to see the school through its next accreditation,  a process that happens every six years.
Moore said the new president will be involved in that process in a collaborative effort with the board.
“Randy has longevity at his last school and was very successful there,” Moore said. “A loss for them and a gain for us.”