OCEANSIDE – Rick Cassar was installed as president and David Broad as vice president of the MiraCosta College Board of Trustees Dec. 19, during its regularly scheduled board meeting.
Cassar, first elected to the MiraCosta College Board of Trustees in November 2014, resides in Cardiff-by-the-Sea and represents Area 2. Cassar won re-election to the board in November 2018 with 75 percent of the vote.
Throughout his 30-plus-year career as an educator, Cassar has been committed to changing lives through a community college education. As a first-generation college student and first-generation American, Cassar understands not only the importance of education, but the challenges students face as they attempt to negotiate their way through the college and university system.
“I am honored for the opportunity to serve MiraCosta College, our students, and community. The district has a solid tradition of excellence and I look forward to working alongside my board colleagues to ensure our students, no matter their goals, are successful in their educational journey,” said Cassar. “We have a strong board and are committed to improving educational outcomes for all our students through the college’s excellent faculty, administration, and classified professionals.”
Cassar grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and earned his bachelor of arts degree in psychology and sociology at the University of Michigan, and his master of science in counselor education at San Diego State University. A proud California resident since 1982, Cassar has worked as a counselor, psychology professor, and department chair at the San Diego Community College District since 1984.
David Broad, a retired biotech executive and former general manager of Genentech’s Oceanside location, has represented the northwest Oceanside community on the board since 2010. Broad has served as president of the Board of Trustees for the past four consecutive years and a total of five times during his nine-year tenure. Broad has been involved with MiraCosta since 2001, initially helping set up a biotech-certificate program to train workers for the IDEC/Genentech facility, and then with the MiraCosta College Foundation. After his retirement, Broad became the MiraCosta College Foundation board president and was active in raising money to help students meet their educational goals.
Both Cassar and Broad have children who have attended community colleges in California.
The next meeting of MiraCosta College Board of Trustees is scheduled for 4 p.m. Jan. 23 in the John MacDonald Board Room, Building 1000, on the Oceanside Campus, 1 Barnard Drive.
