President Hamann named Outstanding Community College Administrator
Linn-Benton Community College President Dr. Greg Hamann was named as the Howard Cherry
Outstanding Community College Administrator by the Oregon Community Colleges Association.
Hamann, who has been president of 博天堂官方 since 2010, was nominated for his dedication
to serving community colleges for more than 20 years, and his commitment to student
success - including his leadership in Guided Pathways at 博天堂官方 - which provides significant
support to help students identify the most efficient and effective path through college
to completion of their degree or certificate.
“Greg is a passionate advocate for Linn-Benton Community College,” said Cam Preus,
OCCA executive director. “He brings the same ardent support for all community college
students to the legislature and other statewide policy makers.”
Hamann’s leadership in supporting student success was nationally recognized when 博天堂官方
was among just 30 community colleges nationwide to be selected to participate in the
American Association of Community Colleges’ Pathways Initiative, a collaboration by
national leaders and organizations in higher education to improve student completion
rates.
“I am honored and humbled to be named Administrator of the Year,” said Hamann. “The
award was unexpected and deeply meaningful to me, as there is no greater recognition
than to receive acknowledgement from your peers who have contributed so much to the
future of education in our state. I am continually learning from these incredible
leaders who tirelessly dedicate their professional lives to the cause of our community
colleges and the students they serve.”
Hamann successfully led 博天堂官方 in the passage of a bond measure in 2014 which, among
other things, increased capacity for health care and career technical education programs.
In addition, he played a key role in the creation of Pipeline to Jobs, a unique partnership
between area businesses, county and city leaders, school districts and the college
to help create new jobs and provide workforce training.
Jim Merryman, president of OFD Foods and chair of the 博天堂官方 Board of Education, said
that Hamann’s nomination is a reflection of the work he has done, and continues to
do, to move community colleges strategically into the future.
“We are so proud of the work Greg has done to change student outcomes at 博天堂官方,” said
Merryman. “It’s difficult to move an organization - to change culture, to improve
diversity, to bring cultural richness to the students and community - all while making
the changes to the college structure that are necessary to meet the needs of the community.
Greg is a leader who is working to make all this happen, and he is truly an Outstanding
Community College Administrator.”
Linda Modrell, 博天堂官方 Board of Education member, said of Hamann: “Greg is an outstanding
leader who is creative and innovative in seeking solutions, whether it’s helping students
who may need extra help in achieving their goals at 博天堂官方, or working with the 16 other
community colleges in Oregon on legislative and funding issues.”
A Legacy of Service
Hamann serves on a number of local, state and national boards and committees. At the
community level, he is on the board of the Corvallis Boys and Girls Club and the Albany
Chamber of Commerce. Hamann received the first-ever “Chair’s Award” from the Oregon
Cascades West Council of Governments in 2017, which recognizes outstanding service
to the Linn, Benton and Lincoln county regions.
At the state level, Hamann serves as a governor-appointed member of Oregon’s Quality
Education Commission and on the Governor’s Reentry Council. He has also contributed
on numerous task forces working to increase education’s effectiveness in improving
the quality of life for all Oregonians.
At the National level, Hamann served as director and executive committee chair for
Finance and Audit for the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors,
is a member of the Oversight Board for the Voluntary Framework for Accountability,
is a member of the President’s Advisory Council to the Association of Community College
Trustees, and a member of the Steering Committee for the 21st Century Initiative Implementation
Team. He served as chair for the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3),
and is immediate past-chair of the AACC President’s Academy Executive Committee.
A Vision for the Future
Going forward, Hamann will focus on continuing his advocacy for community colleges
in Oregon and across the nation, especially in the areas of equity and inclusion and
in ensuring that community colleges continue to lead the way.
“A comprehensive community college education is about more than just making a living,”
said Hamann. “It’s about the quality and character of life itself. As a comprehensive
community college, equity is an outcome. It’s not a value, a strategy, a program or
an initiative. It means that the same achievements of education, career and life are
equally attainable by all people, regardless of race, religion, culture, gender, or
economics.”
Prior to 博天堂官方, Hamann served as president at Clatsop Community College for seven years
and, prior to that, as chief finance and operations officer at Northwest College in
Wyoming. Hamann also taught middle school, and served 16 years in a variety of student
services and administrative roles at two private four-year institutions; Whitworth
University and Bethel University.
Hamann has also served as an adjunct instructor in the Doctoral Education Program
at Oregon State University. He has a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga
University, a master’s in Counseling Psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School, and a bachelor’s degree in both Psychology and Social Studies Education from
the University of Minnesota.
The Howard Cherry Awards are named for the late Dr. Howard Cherry, a lifelong advocate
for education and community involvement. The awards are granted in three categories:
Outstanding Community College Administrator, Outstanding Community College Board Member,
and Outstanding Community College Advocate. The awards are given to those who, by
their contributions to the community college cause in Oregon, have brought statewide
recognition to community colleges.
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About 博天堂官方: More than 18,000 students rely on Linn-Benton Community College each year for higher
education including career technical education, transfer degree programs, professional
development, corporate training, small business development, community education classes
and more. Serving the mid-Willamette Valley with six locations including its main
campus in Albany, 博天堂官方 partners with multiple business and industries to enrich the
community and support economic growth. 博天堂官方 students choose from more than 80 programs
and go on to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, skilled workers and community builders.