Five candidates for College of the Siskiyous vacant superintendent/president position have each been invited back to the Weed campus for a full-day that will include a tour of the campus and meetings with staff, faculty, administrators, and community.
Each candidate’s day will conclude with an interview with the board of trustees that will take place in closed session.
The public community forum for each candidate will be held from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. at the Weed campus in the Distance Learning Center, room 3, and will be broadcast simultaneously via videoconferencing to the Yreka campus, room 4.
Following is a schedule for the candidate forums and biographical information on each candidate that was supplied by COS:
• Thursday, July 31 — Joseph Olson, EdD.
Dr. Olson is the vice president of finance at Copper Mountain Community College, a rural college situated at the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park.
He holds a Doctoral degree from East Tennessee State University in Education Leadership, a Master’s degree in Counseling and a Bachelor degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice, both from Suffolk University.
His background in community college education includes over 20 years of administrative, student support, and fiscal experience, with over 15 years at the deans level or above.
Dr. Olson has served as president, vice president, and as chief administrative officer of finance and academic affairs, administrative services, continuing education and student services.
In addition, Dr. Olson has taught classes in criminal justice, college success and psychology. Prior to Copper Mountain Community College, Dr. Olson served as the government relations liaison/acting dean for student services at Los Angeles City College and as the president of Jefferson Community College in Watertown, NY.
• Friday, Aug. 1 – David Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Smith is the chief administrative officer at Lamar Community College in southeastern Colorado.
Dr. Smith holds a Doctoral degree in English from the University of Denver, and Master and Bachelor degrees in English and writing from Fresno State University.
At Lamar Community College, Dr. Smith has also served as vice president of academic services and interim president. 
With over 20 years of varied experience in higher education, he has held faculty, administrative, and support positions at a range of colleges and universities, from community college to the comprehensive research university.
Dr. Smith has taught at both the community college and university levels in the areas of composition, creative writing, and literature. Prior to Lamar Community College, Dr. Smith served as the director for Columbia College campuses at NAS Lemoore and Cuesta College.
• Monday, Aug. 4 – Randall Lawrence, MA
Lawrence is the vice president of instruction at Olympic College, which serves the residents of Kitsap and Mason Counties located in Bremerton, Wash.
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.
In addition, he has completed all the coursework, written and oral exams, thesis proposal and approval toward a PhD in music from the University of Cincinnati.
Lawrence has served as the vice president of instruction for five and a half years, and six years as an academic dean at Olympic College.
Prior to his administrative duties, he taught college-level courses in music appreciation, fundamentals of music, music theory and early instruments.
• August 5 – Linda Berry, EdD, vice president of Instruction, Merritt College.
Dr. Linda Berry is the vice president of instruction at Merrit College, one of four colleges within 15 miles of one another serving the Peralta District in Oakland.
Dr. Berry holds a Doctoral degree in Education (concentration in Community College Leadership) from Oregon State University in Portland, Ore.
In addition, she has both Master and Bachelor degrees in English from Utah State University in Logan, Utah. 
Dr. Berry has served as the vice president of instruction at Merritt College for the past eight years. Prior to Merritt College, she served as a division dean and as the Title III project director at College of Alameda, also within the Peralta District.
In addition, Dr. Berry has taught a variety of transfer-level and foundational English courses including basic composition, critical thinking, technical writing and literature.
• August 6 – Henry Yong, EdS, vice president of instruction, Taft College
Harry Yong is the vice president of instruction at Taft College, a small, rural and geographically isolated community college located in southern California, approximately 30 minutes from Bakersfield.
Yong holds a degree in Educational Administration and Leadership, Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Leadership, and a Bachelor’s degree in History, all from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda.
In addition he has completed the coursework for and is currently working on his dissertation for a doctoral degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from La Sierra University to be completed by December 2009.
Yong has served as the vice president of instruction at Taft College for the past three years. Prior to Taft College, he was the dean of instruction for academic programs at Victor Valley Community College and was also the associate dean for occupational education at West Hills Community College.
In addition, Yong has taught English as a second language and job-skills class for trainees.