Simpson selected as 11th president of Cypress College

The following information was released by Cypress College.

Dr. Bob Simpson has been selected as Cypress College’s 11th president. Dr. Simpson, who has served as the Executive Vice President at the campus since 2007, will officially begin his duties on July 2, 2012.

His appointment to the presidency was approved on Tuesday night (June 26, 2012) by the Board of Trustees for the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD), which governs Cypress College, Fullerton College and the School of Continuing Education.

Dr. Simpson succeeds Dr. Michael Kasler, who retired after 5 years as president and 20 years at Cypress College.

“I feel extremely privileged and honored to be selected as president of a campus for which I have such high regard,” said Dr. Simpson. “This college is an active participant in the local community and has a rich history of collegial and innovative employees focused on helping our students succeed.”

Among Dr. Simpson’s goals is maintaining access for as many students as possible while Cypress College — one of 112 campuses in the California Community College System — works within severe budget constraints created by the state’s current economic situation.

Dr. Simpson is an advocate of improving educational outcomes to ensure the opportunity for successful college completion by all students, especially those who begin their studies unprepared for the rigors of academic life.

He is a California native, born in Huntington Park in 1953. He grew up in the Southland and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1971. His academic background includes both a bachelor’s in arts and master’s in arts in mathematics from California State University, Fullerton, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Simpson has been involved with community college education for more than 25 years. He was a classroom teacher at Fullerton College for 12 years. He also served the college as an instructional dean for 9 years before coming to Cypress College in 2007 as the Executive Vice President.

During his tenure at Cypress College, Dr. Simpson has focused upon issues of access, equity, student support, and community outreach.

In his free time, Dr. Simpson enjoys outdoor sports, reading, playing the guitar, and fly fishing his favorite trout streams in south-central Idaho.

About NOCCCD

Two of the state’s premiere colleges and one of its most extensive continuing education programs combine to provide the quality educational programming of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD). Nearly 64,000 students enroll each term at Cypress College, Fullerton College, and the School of Continuing Education. Our college students are able to shape their futures in programs leading to associate degrees, vocational certificates, and transfer opportunities. Life-long learning also is possible in continuing education programs that range from high school completion and basic skills mastery through an array of vocational training and self-development courses. The NOCCCD campuses serve an area of over one million diverse people.

About Cypress College

Cypress College has motivated the minds of students since 1966. For nearly a half-million people — including actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses and teachers — Cypress College has been a springboard to their dreams. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice and for others it provides essential training for a rewarding career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.

Cypress College’s 16,500 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 58 university-transfer majors, 145 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 55 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships also are available to qualifying students.

Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 110-campus California Community College System. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Stanton.

Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22 and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.

More information about Cypress College is available by calling (714) 484-7000 or by visiting the campus Web site at www.CypressCollege.edu.