This content was published: June 18, 1998. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC Hires New Leader for Rock Creek Campus
Photos and Story by Mark Evertz
ROCK CREEK– William Christopher, a long-time leader in community college circles in Washington state, recently accepted the position of executive dean for Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus, according to PCC President Daniel Moriarty.
"Bill has a very strong background in instruction and has experience in distance learning," said Moriarty. "He brings a passion for student success and learning, and an enthusiasm for partnerships and collaboration with the community."
Christopher, who will start officially at PCC Sept. 1, comes to the college after assuming several leadership roles within the community college system in Washington. Currently, he holds the dean of instruction position at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Wash., a job he has held for the last 14 years.
Previous positions include the division directorship of Mathematics, Science and Health Occupations at Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash., and various duties as a faculty member at Clark County Community College in Las Vegas, Nev. Christopher also serves on the Distance Learning Council, the Instruction Commission Subcommittee on Distance Education and has maintained affiliations with several community action groups during his time in Washington.
He holds a doctoral degree in biology from Idaho State University and a master’s degree in science teaching from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Christopher started his collegiate academic pursuits at State University College in Oneonta, N.Y., where he received a bachelor’s degree in science and a secondary teaching credential in biology and science.
"He has a very positive outlook on everyone and everything," Moriarty said of Christopher. "He is a very energetic, upbeat and dynamic individual."
Christopher is eager to join the leadership ranks at PCC Rock Creek. "This is an incredible opportunity for me," he said. "The people I have met at PCC are wonderful and the Rock Creek opportunity is one that I’m very excited about undertaking.
"PCC has such an outstanding reputation that to be offered the opportunity to be a part of that is an honor for me," Christopher added.
Before joining the college, Christopher will tie up loose ends back in Bellingham, then head off to a summer teaching assignment in Costa Rica. Christopher said he expects to be back from Costa Rica prior to Sept. 1 so he can assume duties here at Rock Creek before the start of fall term.
His responsibilities as Rock Creek dean will include overseeing the instructional and administrative operations of the campus, maintaining the college’s cooperative efforts with business and industry through its Open Campus programs and directing the operation of PCC’s Central Portland Workforce Training Center and Washington County Workforce Training Center.
Christopher replaces Pamela Transue, who held the Rock Creek executive dean post for three years before becoming president at Tacoma Community College in July of 1997. Interim Executive Dean Steve Rathman held the position temporarily until his retirement on May 29 of this year.
The PCC Rock Creek campus, located at 17705 N.W. Springville Road, annually enrolls 9,400 full- and part-time students. Rock Creek offers college transfer and training courses in fields such as aviation maintenance, welding, diesel mechanics and landscaping.