Miracosta board elects Cassar as new president

EDUCATION

NORTH COUNTY

The Miracosta College Board of Trustees elected Rick Cassar as president and David Broad as vice president at their recent board meeting.

Cassar was first elected to the board in November 2014. A resident of Cardiff, he represents Area 2. Cassar was reelected to the board in November 2018. He has been an educator for more than 30 years. He grew up in Detroit 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 California resident since 1982, he has worked as a counselor, psychology professor, and department chair at the San Diego Community College District since 1984.

As a first-generation college student and first-generation American, Cassar said in a statement that he understands not only the importance of education, but the challenges students face as they try to maneuver through the college and university system.

Broad is a retired biotech executive and former general manager of Genentech’s Oceanside location. He has represented the northwest Oceanside community on the board since 2010. Born and raised in Plymouth, England, he received a Bachelor of Science degree and a doctorate from the University of London, where he also did postdoctoral research work. He then moved into the biotech industry, where he held several leadership positions in development and manufacturing.

Broad was Miracosta College board president for the past four years and served a total of five times during his nine-year tenure. Broad has been involved with Miracosta since 2001, first by helping set up a biotech certificate program to train workers for what was the IDEC/ Genentech facility, and then with the Miracosta College Foundation. After retiring, 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 attended California community colleges.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com