Charles Cepeda is new Board of Regents chair

The Northern Mariana College’s Board of Regents announced that Charles V. Cepeda would be the new board chairperson.

Also, Malua T. Peter, a former congresswoman who served for four terms and who now works with the NMI Head Start Program, is the new board vice chair as well as the chairperson of its Legislative Committee.

Former NMC president Agnes M. McPhetres was elected board treasurer and designated chairperson of the Program Committee.

Other members of the board have been appointed by Cepeda to head key committees. Janet H. King, who works as an attorney at the CNMI Public Defender’s Office, will chair the Fiscal Committee, and Elaine Hocog Orilla will chair the Personnel Committee. Also serving on the Board of Regents are outgoing board chair Dr. Rita H. Inos and Linsa F. Lizama.

The new leadership assumed their responsibilities at the conclusion of their regular meeting held last Friday, July 18, 2008.

Cepeda, the general manager of Pacific Trading Co., was acting chairperson after Inos stepped down for health reasons. Then-acting chair Joey P. San Nicolas stepped down from the position in May due to family and medical issues

“I’m truly honored that the other members have that trust and confidence in me,” Cepeda said. “I look forward to partnering with NMC president Carmen Fernandez and the administration to ensure the college regains full accreditation and continues to play a central role in the educational advancement of our people.”

While he is the new chairperson, board members need to remember that it is a team effort, Cepeda said.

“We need to work as a team,” he said. “ We need to communicate frequently and openly.”

Cepeda said he and the board would continue to focus on fixing NMC’s accreditation status.

NMC has been on probation since February 2007 and was put on show-cause in February this year because, according to Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, the school did not address previous concerns.

“That’s been our focus and I think we should stick with it,” he added. .

Cepeda said he is pleased with the progress the NMC administration has made with the accreditation.

“They are doing excellent in working to submit all the requirements and reports requested,” he said. “They are continually working to improve NMC’s goal to be removed from show-cause.”