Oregon Coast Community College president Marshall Roache has been appointed to the board of the Community College Baccalaureate Association, a national organization that works to support community college development of four-year degree programs.

Earlier this summer, the community college was approved to offer its own four-year degree in nursing, marking a milestone in the college’s nursing program that touts high exam passing rates.

Roache, who had been an administrator at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, was appointed as OCCC’s president in January when Birgitte Ryslinge retired.

“Dr. Roache’s selection to the CCBA board reflects the important work being done here on the Oregon coast,” college board chair Rich Emery said in a news release. “His voice will bring the perspective of small, rural colleges to the national conversation on baccalaureate access, and we’re proud to see OCCC represented on this influential board.”