The California Community College Board of Governors appointed Deputy Chancellor Erik Skinner as Acting Chancellor. Skinner is temporarily replacing the recently-retired Brice W. Harris until they can find a permanent Chancellor.

According to the “Meet the Chancellor” page on the chancellor’s office website, Skinner joined the Chancellor’s office in 2007 when he was appointed as Vice Chancellor for College Finance and Facilities Planning. He also represented the community college system in the state budget process.

Skinner was promoted in 2013 to Deputy Chancellor. In this role, he oversaw and coordinated Academic Affairs, Student Services and Special Programs, Economic Development and Workforce Preparations, and College Finance and Facility Planning.

“Erik Skinner brings valuable knowledge, skill and proven experience to the role of Acting Chancellor,” said CCC Board of Governors President Geoffrey Baum in a March 21 press release from the Chancellor’s office.

“He is a respected leader and the Board of Governors is confident in his ability to guide the California Community Colleges and Chancellors’ office during this transition,” Baum continued.

The board will be awarding Harris with the honorary title of Chancellor Emeritus of the California Community Colleges. He will be returning to retirement after more than four decades in high education.

Harris previously retired in 2012 after spending 16 years as Chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District, before being selected as the CCC Chancellor.

“Brice Harris has been an extraordinary leader for California Community Colleges,” said Baum, “He has devoted his career to improving student success and success, both in California and across the country.”

Los Medanos College President Bob Kratochvil said Chancellors Harris’s departure after 45 years of service in the California Community Colleges system is a huge loss for the CCC system, but his colleagues wish him a happy retirement.

“He has done an outstanding job as an educational leader,” said Kratochvil. “He has had remarkable relations with the legislature and with his counterparts in the UC and CSU systems.”

“As many others have said, Chancellor Harris was the right leader at the right time,” added Kratochvil.

The Board of Governors is currently conducting a nationwide search for a new permanent chancellor. According to Baum, they plan to have the new chancellor by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.

Kratochvil said he agrees with the listings formed by the search committee for qualities they are looking for in the chancellor — A leader with vision and passion for our students, dedication to the mission of community colleges and a history of advocacy for public education. The individual should be results-oriented, innovative, equity-minded, and a great communicator.

“I am confident that the search process being followed by the Board of Governors will once again produce the ‘right leader at the right time,’” said Kratochvil.

The Chancellor is appointed by the Board of Governors and supervises a staff of approximately 170. The Chancellor’s tasks are prescribed by law and include general responsibility for leadership and coordination.

The chancellor’s office also provides services to the colleges including maintaining a comprehensive information system, coordinating, following and sponsoring legislation, and providing assistance to student and fiscal services.

For more information on the search process visit californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/ChancellorSearch.