City College Continues Search for New President

It’s been a steadily evolving contest for the new head of Santa Barbara City College, and on Friday the campus’s Board of Trustees announced that one candidate – Jack Bermingham, interim president of Des Moines’ Highline Community College – will not be the person to succeed current president John Romo. Bermingham’s elimination resulted from a forum held at the City College campus on Thursday. At the moment, three finalists remain: Jack Friedlander, the current Santa Barbara City College Executive Vice President; Blaine Nisson, president of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon; and Andreea Serban, vice chancellor of Technology and Learning Services at South Orange County Community College District in Mission Viejo.

Previously, Bermingham had been the only contender for the spot. In late February, he had been running against Carlo Campo, but the latter dropped out of the race to accept a position at Regent University in Virginia. Friedlander, Nisson and Serban were all subsequently added to the race last week. Before the Board of Trustees makes a final decision, a group including a board member, a City College faculty member and a City College staff member will be visiting Nisson and Serban’s campuses.

A date for final decision has not yet been determined.