LCC’s new president, Dr. Stephanie Bulger, comes from a family of educators. She is the great granddaughter of a sharecropper who passed a philosophy of “using education as the vehicle to change your life” down to his children, and his children’s children. Dr. Bulger has tried to embody that philosophy throughout her journey to LCC.
Dr. Bulger has a masters degree in 19th and 20th century literature from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Michigan. She has worked in corporate sales and education technology and then, following the footsteps of her family, she began a career in education.
“None of my family members had become community college educators so this was my first foray into community colleges, I didn’t know anything about them,” referring to her time as Vice Chancellor of Educational Affairs at Wayne County Detroit University Center.
After getting a doctorate in Higher Education, Dr. Bulger worked for an education technology company as the internet was becoming more prevelant. She believes this work has prepared her for a time when online classes are becoming more frequent and necessary. “My background is uniquely suited to Lane,” Dr. Bulger explained. “Throughout the pandemic and since then students and teachers have seen how important it is to have the ability to adapt with technology.”
Dr. Bulger comes to LCC from the San Diego Community College district where she served as Vice Chancellor of Instructional Services. “The mission of community college really stood out to me as being very close to change in our communities and in the lives of people.”
Dr. Bulger holds community colleges to a high standard of being integral to the needs of the community at large. She spoke about Lane with respect and reverence, and as an example to community colleges as a whole. “People, friends, and colleagues, when I got appointed to LCC told me, ‘You got a good one.’”
She would always come to LCC’s presentation at the annual American Association of Community Colleges meeting. “There was always something coming out of the presentation that was provocative, that was interesting, and in a lot of cases innovative.” She spoke with interest about science classes taking place in the forest and opportunities for research work at the undergraduate level.
She has also visited Lane because San Diego Community College District and LCC are both members of the League for Innovation in the Community College. This organization is dedicated to helping institutions create and support innovative ideas. “There’s some really amazing things going on here.” Dr. Bulger spoke excitedly about LCC classes in forensic science, botany, and the greenhouse on campus.
Dr. Bulger has enjoyed her time in the greater Lane County community as well. She has met people all over Eugene with connections to LCC. Even folks whose lives were significantly changed by their access to education at LCC.
She is always happy to meet new people out in town, whether it’s at a Ducks game or out at a restaurant. She told a story of someone walking up to her after the Ducks game on Saturday, “I’m an urban person so when people come walking up beside you, generally it’s not safe. But they were a very friendly and nice person. They had connections with Lane.”
In Florence she saw the renovation going on to upgrade the building for seismic and accessibility issues. She has also gone to the meetings for the Cottage Grove Health Center.
Dr. Bulger’s top priorities to move LCC forward are focused around her “three legs of a stool. These strategies are meant to be foundational for this year. I intend to be here for the long haul.”
The priorities are: fiscal condition, enrollment, and institutional culture. At the September board meeting she spoke about blue ribbon committees and task forces that were to be started immediately for each priority. When asked about progress on those committees Dr. Bulger stated that they are underway “in terms of assembling the committees, assembling the task force. Certainly with the fiscal condition one. We’re just on the heels with the enrollment strategy as well. Reports to the board, plans of action, we are tracking along with that.” These three priorities are a developing story and The Torch will be checking in periodically to gauge progress.
“If LCC didn’t exist, the community would create it, because it fills a certain niche that the university doesn’t fill. Teaching ESL, GED, career tech education so people can get right to work, transfer preparation. Many students really need that. Smaller class sizes, the attention to teaching and learning.”
Dr. Bulger has respect for community colleges and Lane in particular. “I don’t want to see talent go to waste.” The Torch will be following along to see if this respect and her efforts to get to know Lane County will translate into progress for the LCC community as a whole.
