BBCC's Mohrbacher named president of Centralia College

CENTRALIA — Robert “Bob” Mohrbacher, Big Bend Community College’s (BBCC) vice president of instruction and student services, was recently named the next president of Centralia College.

Centralia College’s Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to offer the position to Mohrbacher April 19 and he accepted the offer. His employment will begin July 1, pending the board’s approval of his contract. No information was released regarding the terms of Mohrbacher’s contract, and according to a report from the Centralia Chronicle newspaper, contract discussions are ongoing.

“It’s hard to think about leaving somewhere as wonderful as Big Bend, but this is a great opportunity,” Mohrbacher said via a release from BBCC. Big Bend President Terry Leas said it is unfortunate that Mohrbacher will have to be replaced, but his new opportunity should be celebrated.

“We hate to lose someone as good as Bob, but we celebrate his advancement within the profession,” Leas said. “He will be an excellent president for Centralia College.”

Mohrbacher has a doctorate in education and community college leadership from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in creative writing from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Washington.

Mohrbacher was one of 40 candidates in the initial screenings for the position, according to the Chronicle report. The field was then trimmed to 10 candidates by a campus community screening committee, and from there, Centralia College’s vice presidents and Board of Trustees picked the top three candidates.

The three finalists, including Mohrbacher, toured the college and hosted a series of community forums for the college’s staff, students and community members. The Board of Trustees reportedly received 127 comments regarding the finalists. The feedback was evaluated before the final decision was made to offer the position to Mohrbacher.

Along with Mohrbacher, the finalists included Derek Brandes, vice president of instruction at Green River College, and Virginia Tomlinson, vice president of instruction at Columbia Basin College.

Centralia College’s search for a new president followed the termination of then-president Robert Frost last December. Frost was let go because he wasn’t a good fit for the position, Board of Trustees Chairwoman Joanne Schwartz told The Chronicle last year. She declined to elaborate.

Frost was the college’s president since July 1, 2014. Former college president James Walton, who preceded Frost, became the interim president following Frost’s termination and will remain in that role until after the college’s commencement ceremonies this year, according to the Chronicle report.

Leas said Big Bend Community College has started the hiring process for Mohrbacher’s successor. He said the college hopes to have someone in place before the start of fall quarter 2016.

Ryan Minnerly can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.