Meet the Candidates: 5 Finalists Make the Cut to Be Cerritos College President

Cerritos College Board of Trustees will hold public candidate forums for members of the community to meet the final five candidates to replace outgoing Cerritos College President Dr. Linda L. Lacy.

The Candidate forums will be held March 10-12 at Cerritos College, Teleconference Center (LC 155), 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650. On March 15, the Board of Trustees will interview the five candidates during its special board meeting, and in April or May, the Board will conduct site visits at the home schools of the final two selected candidates. The College expects the new president to assume the position on July 1.

• Forum Schedule:
  Tuesday, March 10
  4 - 5 p.m. Dr. Monte Perez
• Wednesday, March 11
  11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Dr. Angélica Loera Suarez
  4 - 5 p.m. Dr. Rajen Ramalingum Vurdien

Thursday, March 12
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Dr. Peter Perhac
4 - 5 p.m. Dr. Jose Fierro

Meet the Candidates

Dr. Jose Fierro
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
Laramie County Community College
Cheyenne, Wyoming

Dr. Fierro is vice president of Academic Affairs and chief academic officer at Laramie County Community College. Dr. Fierro earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Applied Sciences in Bogotá, Colombia; his M.S. in leadership and management of educational programs from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and his Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Northcentral University in Prescott, Arizona.

Dr. Monte Perez
President, Los Angeles Mission College
Los Angeles Community College District
Sylmar, California

Dr. Perez is president of Los Angeles Mission College (LACCD). He obtained his bachelor’s degree in social science government at California State University, Los Angeles, and his master’s and Ph.D. in public policy and administration from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Peter Perhac
President/CEO, Steamboat Campus
Colorado Mountain College
Steamboat, Colorado

Dr. Perhac currently serves as chief executive officer for Colorado Mountain College’s Steamboat campus and Vail campus. Dr. Perhac received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling from John Carroll University. He holds a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco.

Dr. Angélica Loera Suarez
Vice President, Student Affairs Division
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

Dr. Suarez has served as vice president, Student Affairs at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California. She earned an associate degree in liberal studies from East Los Angeles College and both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Suarez holds a doctoral degree in educational policy and leadership studies from Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Rajen Ramalingum Vurdien
President, Fullerton College
North Orange Community College District
Fullerton, California

Dr. Vurdien is president of Fullerton College. He has a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Upper Brittany, Rennes, France, and a post graduate certificate in education from the Mauritius Institute of Education. He completed an M.Ed. and a Ph.D. in psychological studies in education at Temple University and an MBA from Long Island University.

Submitted by the Cerritos Community College District