STORY BY BELLA GARCIA, MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLASHINTEL
Cypress College named Dr. Scott W. Thayer as the college’s next president, according to an email sent from the Chancellor of North Orange County Community College District on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
A year following the announcement of President JoAnna Schilling’s retirement, Bryon D. Clift Breland announced the new decision is pending the Board of Trustees approval on Nov. 14, 2023.
Thayer comes from San Bernardino Valley College having previously served in various executive leadership positions at Cuyamaca College, Pasadena City College, and Los Angeles Southwest College. He has been of service to the California Community College system for over 25 years.
He attended Normandale Community College in Minnesota, Rollins College in Florida, Point Loma Nazarene University in California and received his doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Southern California.
In addition, he has been a founding member of Have Faith, Be Strong (HFBS), an organization raising awareness for childhood cancer, and the African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND), an organization increasing the success of African American male students by fostering institutional change within the community college system.
In the email, Breland thanked the search committee, the employees and community members who attended the President Forums, and the Board of Trustees for their consideration during the presidential search.
“I am confident that Dr. Thayer is someone who will build trust, lead with integrity, keep the focus on students, and actively engage all of Cypress College’s constituencies,” said Breland.
