CR's July 24, 2026 Times Standard Article: Recognizing the Uniqueness and Promise of College of the Redwoods

Published on Jul 21 2026

Following careful contemplation and with the deepest affection and respect for College of the Redwoods and its future, I informed the Board of Trustees last September that I will be leaving the College on December 31, 2026. 

I love College of the Redwoods and the faculty, staff, and students who call CR home. However, I believe that the time for a leadership change is now when the institution is strong and well positioned to achieve its vision and promise. 

As regular readers of this column know, I have written about how important higher education is to our lives and our democracy. I have also highlighted many of CR’s accomplishments as they unfolded. I would like to say again how proud I am that we came together as a college community to address structural budget deficits, overcome significant accreditation challenges, strengthen our community partnerships, and recover the enrollment we lost since the pandemic. We also made significant investments in new faculty across disciplines and strengthened our healthcare and career education programs that will meet the community’s needs and support CR’s long-term enrollment growth strategy.   

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the dedication and talent of our faculty, staff, managers, and administrators, the steady leadership of the Board of Trustees, the guidance of the President’s Advisory Council, and the trust of our students and community. I have felt a deep sense of partnership in the work of the College, and I have full confidence that CR will continue to thrive and expand its impact under new leadership.

Shortly after I announced my intention to retire, the Board of Trustees appointed Board Vice President Richard Dorn and Past Board President Dr. Colleen Mullery as co-chairs of the search committee to identify my successor. Both of these experienced trustees understand that hiring a new president is one of the most critical decisions the Board of Trustees can make. 

I am pleased to write that the search committee has invited three presidential candidates to interview in September. In identifying these three candidates, I believe that the search committee, led by Trustees Dorn and Dr. Mullery, clearly recognized just how important it is to invite presidential candidates who will bring fresh eyes, energy, and perspective to the institution to address yet unforeseen challenges and discover new opportunities. 

Dr. Mark C. Fields currently serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs at College of the Siskiyous. A longtime California Community College educator and administrator, he has served as faculty, associate dean, dean, and acting vice president of instruction. A community college graduate, Dr. Fields holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and previously served with the California Highway Patrol, retiring as a lieutenant. A lifelong California resident, he has lived and worked in both urban and rural communities throughout the state.

Dr. Thad Russell serves as Vice President of Instruction at Porterville College, providing leadership in instructional programs, accreditation, enrollment strategy, workforce development, and institutional planning. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Russell has more than three decades of experience in higher education and workforce development and holds a doctorate in Community College Leadership. His career includes service as a faculty member, academic administrator, and Dean of Career Technical Education and Workforce Development at College of the Sequoias.

Dr. David Williams has served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Solano Community College since 2017. His work has focused on expanding education for justice-impacted students, promoting equitable teaching practices, and removing barriers to student success. Dr. Williams has held faculty, classified, and administrative roles and holds a Ph.D. in Theatre History from UC Davis. Prior to his administrative career, Dr. Williams was a full-time Professor of Theatre History and Film at Texas Tech University and taught at American River College, Cosumnes River College, and UC Berkeley.

I am encouraged by the quality of each of the candidates, which reflects both the College’s reputation and position and the appeal of this leadership opportunity. 

I want to thank each member of the committee for their extraordinary insight and commitment to the search process: Students Chetna Sidhu and Leah Herrera, faculty members Hillary Reed and Wendy Riggs, staff members Mark Bernards and Tatiana Robinson, managers Colin Truillo and Amber Cavanaugh, administrators Dr. Alan Price and Dr. Crystal Morse, and community representative Chris Albright. 

I can say with a great deal of confidence that College of the Redwoods is a jewel—and the Board of Trustees will hire the right president who will recognize the uniqueness and promise of this wonderful institution.