CCSN chief starts new job in Oregon on April 1

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001 | 11:21 a.m.

Robert Silverman will begin a new job leading an Oregon community college on April 1 -- hastening the search for his replacement as interim president at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"It makes the urgency of finding an interim all that more important," said Jane Nichols, chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Silverman reached a final agreement in contract negotiations on Friday to take the top job at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore., pending the ratification of his contract by the college's board, Steve Meckel, the board's chairman, said.

"We're just very pleased, and I just think that his coming here is a matter of formality at this point," Meckel said.

Higher education officials in Nevada already are busy seeking a replacement for Silverman, who took over for Richard Moore when Moore stepped down to become the founding president of the Nevada State College at Henderson.

A list of at least eight names are up for consideration as Silverman's successor as interim. Only three names, thus far, have been confirmed.

Mike Meyer, CCSN's associate vice president for athletics and fund-raising, is one of the names on the list. Meyer headed up the Boys and Girls Club in Las Vegas for 32 years until going to work for the community college and is being considered because of his long record of fund-raising, an element that is a key component for any college.

Also being considered is Chris Chairsell, the interim associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs.

The third name to come out is David Hoggard, who has served as interim president of CCSN once before. Most recently, Hoggard served as the Las Vegas office director of Census 2000, Nichols said.

All names are expected to be submitted to the Board of Regents on March 1 for consideration.