Orange Coast College welcomes Dr. Christiaan Desmond as its new Dean of the Consumer Health and Sciences Division. He will be replacing Dr. Jane McLaughlin, who retired in June 2020.
Dr. Desmond joins OCC from San Jose City College, where he served as the Associate Dean of Career Technology Education. He also previously served in administrative positions related to business and workforce development, as well as in instructional roles as a professor of automotive engineering and technology.
“I have devoted the past 16 years to education and serving the community. I have been fortunate to work at high school, community college, and university campuses,” Desmond says. “My true passion is at a community college where I believe we can have the greatest impact for our students. As an educator and southern California native I can't think of anything better than working at Orange Coast College serving the students, faculty, staff and community.”
Dr. Desmond’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in history from California State University, Long Beach; two master’s degrees in occupational studies and educational administration from Cal State Long Beach; and a doctorate in community college leadership from Ferris State University.
In his downtime Dr. Desmond enjoys spending time outdoors hiking or at the beach with his wife and three children. His first day at OCC was July 6.
“I am very excited to have Dr. Desmond join our leadership team, and look forward to his leadership starting this summer,” says Vice President of Instruction Dr. Michelle Grimes-Hillman.