Last Updated on November 9, 2024 by Jordan Monaco
(Salem) The Oregon Association of Community Colleges (OCCA) announced Friday, November 1, 2024 its annual Howard Cherry Award winners as recognition of outstanding contributions to public service, advancing the mission of community college education and dedication to Oregon students.
Chris Brown, of Heppner, a Blue Mountain Community College Board member since 2015, will be honored as the Howard Cherry Community College Board member of year for 2023-24 as part of the activities of the annual OCCA conference on Thursday, November 8, 2024 in Gleneden Beach, Oregon.
Brown, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army, who lives with his wife Kathy on their ranch in Heppner, has long been a proponent of the college and its students. Prior to joining the BMCC Board, Chris was an integral volunteer for the BMCC capital construction bond campaign in May 2015, serving as a campaign lead in Morrow County and helping secure $23 million in funds. His proximity to the college and its students during this campaign created an even stronger passion for BMCC’s mission. He won a write-in campaign to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Directors in 2015 just months after the bond’s approval by voters. Chris was then selected to chair the Bond Oversight Committee to oversee the use of the funds for the capital construction projects at three locations in two counties.
“Chris brings a strong commitment to fiscal integrity and transparency to the board,” said BMCC President, Dr. Mark Browning. He is thoughtful, inclusive and an advocate for our students and college that sets an example for anyone who serves in the public sector.”
As a member of the BMCC Board, Chris twice served as Chair, as well as Budget Committee and Audit Committee chair for the past four years. He also served as the OCCA representative for BMCC from 2015-2023, and led the BMCC Presidential Search Committee in 2021.
“Chris does his homework, asks the hard questions, and is willing to see issues through multiple perspectives”, said Jane Hill of Pendleton, a former BMCC Board member and board chair. “He is an outstanding ambassador of BMCC, and is supportive of making sure BMCC remains relevant, reliable, and accessible to the communities it serves.”
BMCC serves students throughout the largest community college service district in Oregon, covering more than 18,000 square miles, ranging from just outside Huntington to the east, to the Morrow/Gilliam county line on the west, John Day and Grant County to the south, north to the Oregon/Washington state line of the Columbia River.
For more information on Chris Brown, BMCC Board governance, programs and activities at Blue Mountain Community College, please visit www.bluecc.edu .