The CSSO/CIO (Chief Student Services Officers/Chief Instructional Officers) Leadership Institute is sponsored by the California Community College Chief Student Services Officers Association and the California Chief Instruction Officers Association. The Institute was begun in 1990 by the CSSO association to address the need to develop leaders for the community college system. Today, a maximum of twenty-four “rising stars” from various community colleges across the state are invited to take part each year. The Institute provides an exciting opportunity for participants to share ideas, engage in critical discourse, consider programs geared for student success, and learn from each other, while preparing to meet the challenges facing the profession. Past participants have commented that they came away from the Institute with practical strategies and insight for dealing with various challenges. It also served as a great tool for networking with rising leaders at various community colleges across California.

The 2007 Leadership Institute was held November 28 – November 30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Irvine, California. Individuals were nominated by their college’s Vice President for Student Services and/or Vice President for Instruction and were chosen for the institute based on their potential for future leadership in the California Community Colleges. The select group of participants in this year’s Institute totaled 23 in number and represented 20 different colleges from southern, central and northern California.

This year’s roster of participants was a rich combination of talented future leaders from student services, instruction, institutional grants, distance learning, outreach, and the System Office. The institute was co-facilitated by Dr. Bob Bell, Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer, Chaffey College; Dr. Michael Wilding, Vice President for Student Services, College of the Canyons; and Dr. Larry Buckley, Vice President of Instruction, Fullerton College.

Watch for information in early summer for the 2008 CSSO/CIO Leadership Institute! Based on the feedback from this year’s participants, the institute continues to be an important and valuable step towards a future senior position in the California Community Colleges.

About the Author

Bob Bell, Ed.D.
Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, California

Dr. Bob Bell serves as Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Chaffey College. Prior to his current position he served as Vice President for Student Services at Chaffey College for three years. Dr. Bell holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from the University of Redlands. He earned his Doctorate of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of the Pacific.

Dr. Bell has held numerous positions in higher education. He was Vice President for Student Services for four years at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington. In addition, he was Dean of Students at Mt. San Jacinto College, Administrative Dean of Admissions and Records at Cerritos College, Associate Dean of Student Life at the University of Southern California, and Associate Dean of Students at Harvey Mudd College.

Dr. Bell has served as a member of the Executive Board of the CCCCSSOA. He is active in the community as a member of the Board of Directors of several organizations including the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce, Spanish Trails Girls Scouts Council, and the Chino Valley YMCA.