selected as the new president of Cypress College, the school has announced in a press release. He will assume his new position in January 2024, it said.
Dr. Thayer’s appointment was announced this week by the NOCCCD Board of Trustees at its regular meeting on November 14. “We are very happy to welcome Dr. Thayer and have every confidence in his vision, experience, and commitment to student success,” said Board President Ed Lopez.
Dr. Thayer has 24 years of higher education experience in a variety of administrative roles. He has been the Vice President of Student Services at San Bernardino Valley College since 2017, having also served there as Interim President. He served as the Vice President of Student Services at Cuyamaca College and was the Dean of Student Affairs at Pasadena City College.
Dr. Thayer has been an advocate for historically underrepresented students throughout his professional career and was integral in establishing a food pantry, housing support, and basic needs resources at San Bernardino Valley College. Dr. Thayer is an established grant writer and has secured over $15M in TRIO grant and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) funding to assist students in their pursuit of a higher education. He is a part-time faculty member teaching in the San Diego State University Community College Leadership Program and serves on doctoral dissertation committees.
“I am looking forward to this opportunity to join the Cypress College community and excited about building upon the important work and innovative practices that are taking place in support of student equity and success,” shared Dr. Thayer.
Dr. Thayer received his doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Southern California. He completed his Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in California, his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Rollins College in Florida, and his Associate of Arts degree from Normandale Community College in Minnesota.
NOCCCD Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland stated, “Throughout Dr. Thayer’s career, he has addressed equity issues by advocating for equity in higher education. He has served as a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) coach through the state Chancellor’s Office Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) and as a member of the Partnership Resource Teams providing technical assistance in support of student access, retention, K-20 partnerships and equity and success initiatives. NOCCCD is fortunate to welcome this innovative, action-oriented leader to the team and we look forward to working closely with Dr. Thayer to continue supporting and expanding upon the great work that is happening at Cypress College.”
Dr. Thayer is a founding member of two non-profit organizations: Have Faith, Be Strong (HFBS), a non-profit organization for childhood cancer awareness, and the African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND), an organization established to foster institutional change within the community college system to increase the success of African American male students. He and his wife Maria are proud parents of their daughters Maya Xochitl and Marisol.
Two of the state’s premier colleges and most extensive continuing education program combine to provide the quality educational programming of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD).
Nearly 58,000 students enroll each term at Cypress College, Fullerton College, and North Orange Continuing Education. College students are able to shape their futures in programs leading to associate degrees, vocational certificates, and transfer opportunities.
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ife-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 – each pursuing their own, unique ambitions.