The office of top cop was filled on an interim basis as Lieutenant Richard Buckowiecki got to become his own chief at the Oct. 18 Board of Trustees meeting.
Four other management positions were filled by the appointment of the Board. “We are very fortunate to attract individuals of such a high caliber,” said Cerritos College President Dr. Noelia Vela. “Their unique talents allow us to continue to work toward excellence in everything we do.”
The five management positions posted were:
- Interim Chief of Campus Police Richard Bukowiecki
- Director of Research and Planning Dr. Nathan Durdella
- Coordinator of CalWorks Norma C. Rodriguez
- Director of Community Education Patricia Robbins Smith
- Director of Public and Governmental Affairs Mark L. Wallace
Bukowiecki had been serving as interim chief and has served as lieutenant for the past 11 years. He has been with the Cerritos campus police since 1988 and he will now be a full-time employee overseeing the college grounds, police reports and investigation follow-up.
Durdella has been at Cerritos for two and a half years and with his hiring as director of research and planning, Durdella said that he was “privileged but there is a dynamic team of students, faculty and staff.”
He holds a doctorate in higher education and organizational change from UCLA, where his research projects included evaluation theory, veterans in higher education, and Latin American higher education systems. Durdella also holds a master’s degree in education, a master’s degree in Latin American studies, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, all from UCLA.
He explained that his department handles data requests and program reviews for each department.
In addition, Durdella explained that there is a “state, and federal student accountability process that finds out how the programs are presented and formatted.” He looked forward to a long-term working relationship with everyone he works with.
Rodriguez will continue with a working relationship after more than a 22-year career at Cerritos College as the coordinator of CalWorks Services. Previously she served as a Student Affairs assistant and part-time counselor in the Financial Aid office.
“I was very excited when vice president Stephen Johnson told me I had been hired,” she commented.
According to Rodriguez, the CalWorks program is a, “federal and state welfare program with social service learning for students to be able to work.”
Furthermore, the CalWorks program gives students the opportunity to transfer for the first time.
Smith, who is the new director of Community Education program, part of the college’s Community, Industry and Technology Education unit, held the position of director of Foster and Kinship Care Education since 2002. Smith could not be reached for comment.
Walllace is the new director of Public and Governmental Affairs and with more than 25 years of experience. Prior to joining Cerritos, he worked at Pasadena City College as well as the California Community College’s Chancellor’s Office in Sacramento.
Before he was hired he worked as the Public Information Officer and Publications Director for eight years. Wallace could not be reached for comment.
