NEWPORT – The Oregon Community College Association has awarded Oregon Coast Community College president Birgitte Ryslinge its annual outstanding administrator award.

The Howard Cherry Award honors contributions of community college advocates, administrators and board members.

The statewide association cited Ryslinge’s “passion and drive” as an educator coupled with her “unshakable belief that education is the key to creating a more equitable, compassionate and prosperous world” for helping her win the award.

The association said Ryslinge is the only community college president in the state who secured independent accreditation for her college from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. “Typically a 10-year process, Ryslinge accomplished it in just over five,” the association said in announcing the award. Under Ryslinge’s leadership, the association said, “OCCC essentially redesigned every structure, policy, practice, and curricular component within the college.”

Ryslinge came to OCCC from Portland Community College in 2014, and since then led the college’s effort to get independent accreditation in 2020, and overseen the creation of new programs and shepherded the college through the tumult caused by the pandemic. The college has 900 students and campuses in Waldport, Newport and Lincoln City.

“Many people are blessed with the ability to speak eloquently but are seldom blessed with both the words and the ability to generate results,” Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City wrote in a letter supporting Ryslinge’s nomination for the award.

Ryslinge was notified of the honor Friday and will receive it in April during the association’s annual conference.