KRV Campus
Dr.
Erie V. Johnson was recently appointed to the administrative staff of Cerro
Coso College to serve as Director South Kern/ Kern Valley Center. Johnson
took the reins on January 4, 2010. He comes to this administrative
assignment from Astoria, Oregon where he worked at Clatsop Community College
in a variety of positions providing leadership for the colleges Career and
Technical Education mission.
Johnson's career has primarily been working in community and technical
colleges in western states including Alaska, Colorado, California, Montana,
Oregon and Texas. He has experience working as a Program Coordinator, Center
Director, Vice President, Dean of Instruction, Division Chair, Executive
Director, and College President. During his last four years working in
Alaska he worked in rural Alaska where he was founding Executive Director
for Southwestern Alaska Vocational and Education Center. SAVEC is a rapid
response regional education and training center serving a 55,000 square mile
area with 33 villages and only two that were connected by roads.
Johnson and his wife were both born and raised in California. They have two
adult children working and living in California. When the position at Cerro
Coso Community College opened they decided to apply to be closer to family
and to move away from the 8 feet of annual rainfall that they experienced
during the last three Oregon winters.
Johnson attended Shasta College in Redding California where he received an
Associates of Arts Degree in Agriculture. He then transferred to Chico State
College and completed the Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry.
Johnson then enrolled at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo completing his teaching
credential and his Masters of Arts in Agricultural and Vocational Education.
He next taught high school agriculture for three years in California and
then returned to graduate school at the University of Wyoming completing an
Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Administration. While in
Wyoming he applied for and was hired to work in his first administrative
leadership position at a community college in Colorado. While working for
that college he completed the requirements for the Educational Doctorate
Degree in Community, Vocational, and Adult Education from the University of
Northern Colorado.
Johnson, has chosen the community college for his life's work as he
remembers how important a role that Shasta College played by preparing him
to continue on with his education and allowing him to have a career that
helps students as they prepare for their own journey.
The Johnson's reside in the Kern River Valley. Johnson works at the center
located in Lake Isabella, refining educational services for the KRV region.
He also works the South Kern portion of the centers service area at Edwards
AFB. The college will seek to expand education and training opportunities
for the residents and employers, including feeder high schools located in
the southern portion of Kern County.
During his career Johnson has had the opportunity to help develop new
colleges and or expand educational and training opportunities. With these
experiences as part of his educational arsenal, Johnson is confident he can
assist the college in its mission to the area Cerro Coso College defines as
South Kern/Kern River Valley Center.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Natalie Dorrell, Public Information (760) 384-6260