(Photo above: HECC chair Neil Bryant)
At its October 8 meeting, the Higher Education Coordination Commission (HECC) unanimously elected Neil Bryant as chair, and David Rives as vice-chair, to lead its work dedicated to fostering pathways to post-secondary education opportunities and success for all Oregonians. Both highly esteemed leaders, Chair Bryant is an attorney and shareholder in the firm of Bryant, Lovlien, and Jarvis, in Bend, and a former Oregon State Senator; and vice chair David Rives is a community college faculty member and president of American Federation of Teachers (AFT)-Oregon.
The one-year terms of chair and vice-chair are elected by the Commission. The HECC is a 14-member volunteer commission, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and its statutory authorities include: advising the Oregon Legislature, the Governor, and the Chief Education Office on higher education policy; academic program approvals; and the development of biennial budget recommendations for public postsecondary education.
Ben Cannon, executive director of the HECC, said, “Congratulations to commissioners Bryant and Rives, both trusted leaders and deeply committed to the Commission’s public charge for Oregonians. They step into these roles during an exciting time for the HECC, including the development of the 2016-20 strategic plan for higher education in Oregon, one of our key statutory charges, which will guide our plans and activities in coming years. We sincerely look forward to their wisdom and leadership.”
At the October meeting held at Eastern Oregon University, commissioners expressed gratitude to outgoing chair Tim Nesbitt and vice-chair Betty Duvall, who each served two terms starting in 2013 and are continuing their board service. Duvall also served as chair of the HECC when it was initially convened from 2012-2013. Cannon said, “As an agency leader, I am grateful for the vision and foundational work achieved by outgoing chair Nesbitt and vice-chair Duvall, who led the HECC through the first two years of the Commission’s newly vested authorities—a time of significant change in the higher education landscape—with a student-centered commitment and clarity. I thank them for their leadership and continued service.”
A former Oregon State Senator, Chair Bryant has a lengthy history of public service; he was first appointed to serve the HECC in 2012, and served as vice-chair from 2012-13. He previously served as director of government relations and advisor to the former Oregon University System and State Board of Higher Education from 2004-09. Serving as State Senator from 1993 to 2001, he chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee for six years, received numerous accolades for his legislative service, and served in leadership committees for the National Council of State Legislators. Bryant is past chair of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon, which advocates for cultural and arts organizations across Oregon, and has served on the boards of numerous organizations including the High Desert Museum and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. He holds a BA from Pacific Lutheran University, and a J.D. from Willamette University.
Vice chair David Rives is a faculty leader who has served on the Commission since 2013. He has served as president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)-Oregon for over six years. Rives also serves on the AFT Higher Education Program and Policy Council, and as vice-president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. He previously served as Community College Faculty Advisor to the State Board of Education and as an officer on the former Oregon Education Investment Board. He has taught English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in England, Thailand, and at Oregon community colleges, including for fifteen years at Portland Community College. He holds a BA from the University of Oregon and a MA in Teaching ESOL from Portland State University.
Chair Bryant and vice-chair Rives have begun their terms and will chair the next public meeting on November 12, 2015 at Clackamas Community College. For more information about the HECC or to sign up for public meeting notices, please visit www.Oregon.gov/HigherEd.
The HECC is dedicated to fostering and sustaining the best, most rewarding pathways to opportunity and success for all Oregonians through an accessible, affordable and coordinated network for educational achievement beyond high school. For more information, go to www.Oregon.gov/HigherEd
