Board of Directors

Dr. Sean Hancock, President of CCCC

Dr. Sean C. Hancock joined Cerro Coso Community College as president in September of 2020.

He brought extensive experience in higher education administration, instruction, and student learning support services that will ensure Cerro Coso Community College's continued emphasis on improved student outcomes, building on the outstanding leadership of his predecessor, President Jill Board,” Burke says. “Additionally, Dr. Hancock will have a keen focus on navigating through the current Covid-19 crisis with a long-term vision for transitioning to a more stable environment in the future.

Previously Dr. Hancock served as Vice Chancellor for Student and Institutional Success at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District in El Cajon. His primary responsibilities included providing vision and leadership for the district-wide academic and student services, community and workforce development, integrated strategic planning, institutional research, and information technologies. He has more than 20 years of experience in community college administration and leadership in California.

He earned an Associate's Degree from College of the Sequoias in Visalia, a Bachelor's in Management and Organization Development from Fresno Pacific University, an MBA from TUI University in Cypress, and holds an Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education/Community Colleges from University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Dr. Hancock is a strong and innovative leader who can build a successful future for Cerro Coso Community College by working with the Kern Community College District to achieve the vision set forth for student success.

Alexia Svedja, CCCC Foundation President

Alexia Svedja is a native Idahoan that has called the Antelope Valley home since 1999. She is currently the president and executive director of the California City Chamber of Commerce and president-elect of the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation board.

Alexia holds a bachelor's in German from Utah State University, a master's in Bilingual-Bicultural Studies from the University of Texas, San Antonio, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

Alexia started her career teaching English at the Defense Language Institute. She continued in the education field as a teacher trainer for the states of Texas and Colorado and as the director of an adult literacy program. Many moves, due to her spouse's career, resulted in an eclectic resume. While Alexia never quite left teaching, she made the change over to nonprofit management and consulting. She specializes in rebuilding struggling organizations and establishing new nonprofits. In her current position, she is passionate about bringing positive change to her local community and area.

Alexia also taught and rewrote the curriculum for Adult English as a Foreign Language classes at Cerro Coso.

Derrick Hu

Derrick Hu is the Deputy Director for the Office of Small Business Programs, Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD). He was born and raised in Honolulu, HI.

Derrick is a veteran of the US Air Force serving in the logistics career field.

He is a graduate of Musician's Institute of Technology (MI) in Hollywood, CA. Derrick has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's Degree in Administration from California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB).

He was hired as an intern for the Navy Acquisition Intern Program (Outstanding Scholars Program) supporting the NAWCWD Contracts Competency and has experience in "cradle to grave" contracting and supporting many of the DoD's Electronic Acquisition Initiatives. Derrick has been a resident of Ridgecrest, CA since 1994. He is married to Teresa (O'Neil) and has two adult children (twins). Derrick enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. He has a passion for music and loves playing and collecting (left-handed) guitars. Derrick is the lead guitarist for recording artist Andrew Ryan and supports other local musicians.

Volunteer Experience:

• Chair, DoD Western Regional Council for Small Business Advocacy and Education
• Voting Board Member of the SSUSD Special Education Community Advisory Committee
• Club President (and various officer positions), Ridgecrest Possibilitarians Toastmaster Club
• Executive Board Member, China Lake/Ridgecrest Chapter of the National Contracts Management Association (NCMA)
• Advisory Committee Member, Leadership Ridgecrest Inaugural Program

Cameron Bruce

Cameron Bruce is a registered professional engineer in private practice after retiring from 35 years in federal service.

Cameron held a series of positions in engineering and management which led him to a rich and rewarding career in research, design, and testing of science and technology demonstrations.

"I am forever grateful for the solid foundation I received at Cerro Coso. I was enabled to complete my upper-division engineering work at San Diego State University followed by Graduate degrees at CSU Bakersfield & California Lutheran University. It is gratifying to observe that Cerro Coso still has first-class faculty to provide great starts for transfer students in all fields as well as specific vocational programs which provide successful careers for students, and top-notch employees to meet the needs of local industry."

Deidre Patin

Deidre Patin has been a member of the Cerro Coso College Foundation Board since 2015 and served as Foundation Board President for two years. She is an active volunteer at Saint Ann's school and also serves on the Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

An alumnus of Cerro Coso Community College, Deidre went on to earn her Bachelor's degree in Business in 2006.

In her full-time career with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Deidre serves as a Public Affairs Specialist and the NAWCWD community liaison.

Both natives to the valley, Deidre met her husband Jason while attending Burroughs High School. They moved away for several years, returning in 2003 to their hometown of Ridgecrest. Deidre and Jason have four children, two adult sons and two young daughters ages 8 and 6. They also have a beautiful granddaughter and two more on the way.

Joe Furtado

Joe Furtado, Pharm.D., is from Oklahoma, and attended South Oklahoma City Junior College (now Oklahoma City Community College) before earning his BA degree in Mass Communication from Oklahoma City University. Joe enjoyed a 20-year career in advertising and marketing, serving in roles of progressive responsibility at Kerr-McGee Corp. in Oklahoma City, and Continental Airlines (now United) in Houston, Texas.

Joe's support of community colleges springs from an unexpected, life-changing chain of events: In the wake of September 11, 2001, thousands of airline workers, including Joe, were suddenly jobless, as the travel industry collapsed overnight. Sensing an opportunity to "hit the reset," he entered Houston Community College, completing two years' math and science courses. Meanwhile, as air travel recovered, he returned to Continental part-time, qualifying for early retirement just before entering pharmacy school. In 2008, at age 46, Joe was awarded the Pharm.D. degree from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.

Years earlier, while working for Kerr-McGee, Joe had been captivated by the simple beauty of the Upper Mojave Desert and Eastern Sierra. So, pharmacy degree in hand, he left Houston and relocated to the Indian Wells Valley. Joe worked several years as a community pharmacist before joining Ridgecrest Regional Hospital in 2015, and has led the hospital's Outpatient & Long-Term Care Pharmacy Services team since 2016. Joe retains the wanderlust inspired by his former career: He has visited over 40 countries, and continues to travel frequently. From personal experience, Joe recognizes and appreciates the value of strong community college systems, and looks forward to serving on the CCCC Foundation board of directors.

Cheryl Saint Amand

Cheryl Saint Amand is originally from Syracuse, NY and lived in New Hampshire, Maine, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia during her civil service career with DoD. She married local David Saint Amand in 2014, retired and moved to Ridgecrest, CA.

During her career, she worked with or for all branches of the military, but predominately with the Navy, doing contracting and program management for different aspects of submarines and submarine payloads.

After arriving in Ridgecrest, she joined several community organizations; Rotary, WACOM, Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority, and the Oasis Garden Club. She has been the Rotary Club of China Lake President, Youth Services Director, and the Rotary Foundation’s treasurer. She enjoys traveling, gardening and her grandchildren, who are located in Maine, Florida and Washington. David and Cheryl enjoy the cohesive networking among the charitable organizations in Ridgecrest who are committed to improving this remote community.

Robert Bezduch

Robert Bezduch is the President of Saalex Corporation and has over 30 years of combined experience as an active duty Army Intelligence Officer and federal contractor. During his tenure as an intelligence officer, he managed several programs encompassing force management related projects, focusing on planning, coordinating, and controlling project life-cycle activities, while developing organization and operational concept plans. Throughout his military career, Robert served as the capabilities subject matter expert for Intelligence training and operations, All Source, systems maintenance, and Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA), and as the 2nd Infantry Division Senior Division Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP) Representative, supporting the acquisition and fielding of TENCAP systems. He also served two combat tours supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He earned a Master's Degree in Educational Technology from the University of Arizona, South, and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.

Kim Metcalf, Executive Director for Foundation

Email: kimberly.metcalf@cerrocoso.edu
Phone: (760) 384-6145

Kim Metcalf is the new Executive Director for the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation. Kim was born and raised in Ridgecrest and although she loves the desert, her heart really belongs near the water. She spent most of her summers growing up in Laguna Beach living the “beach” life. Kim's family came to Ridgecrest in the early fifties seeking employment through China Lake. Kim expresses she has so many wonderful memories of growing up in this valley - knowing everyone and truly feeling like part of a large family. The majority of Kim's adult life was spent working in the legal community as a Paralegal for both Attorneys and the private sector. In 2018 Kim changed careers and took on the huge challenge of becoming the Executive Director of the RRH Foundation. Furthermore, Kim states how leaving the legal community to concentrate on assisting in building a Foundation for the Ridgecrest Reginal Hospital was a truly wonderful and rewarding experience. Kim communicates her appreciation for how fortunate she is to live in this community, “a community that is large enough to make a difference yet small enough that we are privy to see the difference we have made.” Kim has been married to my wonderful husband, Michael, for 30 years. Mike was also born and raised here in Ridgecrest and has been teaching the EMT program at Cerro Coso for 23 years. Additionally, Kim has three children whom she is very proud of. Interestingly enough, all three of her children and her husband attended Cerro Coso. When asked what Kim likes to do for fun or if she has any hobbies, she states, “I have always been active in our community and presently serve on the BOD for the China Lake Rotary Club. For the past two years I have volunteered with CAPK arranging Christmas gifts and baby gifts for some of their clients and I am also active with Beta Sigma Phi sorority.” Kim emphasizes that in her “spare” time she enjoys spending time with family and friends. To conclude, Kim claims her favorite motto “will always be Live, Laugh, Love which [she] feels just about covers all the bases when it comes to how we should live our lives.”