Dr. Morgan Lynn will resume her job of vice president of academic affairs on June 1. She has been acting as the college’s interim president, but is now ready to return to her former post now that Dr. Jane Harmon will officially become the new president of Cerritos College.

Over the phone from her office, Lynn is witty and approachable; the tag “president” is no longer intimidating.

“I do enjoy making people laugh,” she says.

Vice President of Public Affairs Steven Helfgot can be heard in the background saying “she’s a classic comedian.”

Lynn, who has been on campus since 1990, says that it’s been a great run and in this time she has been able to grow professionally and make close friends. She feels at home at Cerritos.

“She is a real Falcon,” coordinator of student activities Dean Ackland says and it coincides with her campus spirit.

“She cares about the students and the campus and is always willing to listen.”

Although a decade has passed by, for Lynn “It doesn’t feel like 10 years.”

As part of her professional goals, she plans to do everything possible technologically and teaching wise to ensure students’ success at Cerritos. “We call it the student success initiative,” she says.

A supporter of technologically oriented programs such as the migration of computers to faculty offices as well as the Teacher TRAC program, Lynn clarifies that she doesn’t support technology for technology’s sake. “Technology,” she stresses, “enhances what we do in the classroom.”

According to Lynn, since people learn differently, technology helps address those differences.

Lynn talks about lobbying at the state level as a way to finance all programs that deal with technology.

“It’s expensive to maintain that technology,” she admits. She is also aware of the necessity of technology in the classrooms.

One of her goals is to create “smart classrooms,” which are outfitted with technological equipment.

“It’s my goal to make that happen,” Lynn says.

With B.A. and M.A. degrees in Psychology and a doctorate in Higher Education and Organizational Change, Lynn is adamant about staying in contact with the students. In the past, she was a part-time instructor of Psychology.

“It is important, as an administrator, to teach and keep in touch with the students,” she says.

For her, being aware on a personal level of the needs of faculty and students is to know “what’s going on in the trenches.”

By being the interim president, she established close contact with another group, the Board of Trustees.

Robert Chester, president of the faculty senate and member of the Board of Trustees says that Lynn is an open- minded and approachable person.

“Anyone who thought that she wasn’t ready to be president learned differently during her tenure as interim president,” he says.

From a student’s point of view, Constantine Rosenbauer, former student body president who was also member of the board says that Lynn has done an outstanding job and has led the college in a positive direction.

“She is people oriented and not autocratic,” Rosenbauer says.

With a wider circle of influence, as Lynn describes the presidency, she established more relationships around campus and got to see what the board does. “It was a new experience,” she confesses.

“You never do it by yourself,” she adds, referring to being president. “Everybody cooperated and that was quite touching.”

Among her personal goals, she would like to achieve a balance between her public and private life, something she says has been difficult for her. For example, she would like to take a sculpting class where she would use her creativity.

“It’s like playing in the mud,” she says.

She would also like to learn Spanish. In her opinion, “it is incumbent upon those who live in California to learn Spanish.”

Since she hasn’t traveled much she is looking forward to her trip to Italy this month.

“I want to become steeped in the culture.”

She will be “a complete tourist” with map and camera in hand.