Established in 2004, the Charles E. Carpenter Lecture and Conference Endowment supports advances professional development for community college leaders. Held each spring on the Oregon State University campus, the Carpenter Lecture features a nationally known speaker on a topic of importance to community colleges. In addition to current students in the community college leadership doctoral program, attendees include northwest community college leaders and members of the OSU community. The Carpenter Event has become a premier professional development event for community college leaders and has significantly advanced Oregon State University’s work in community college leadership.

Sixteenth Annual Carpenter Lecture

Friday, February 28
OSU Portland Center
555 SW Morrison St Suite 2100

2020 Speaker: Dr. Francisco Rodriguez, Chancellor of the LA Community College District and AHE alumnus

"Community Colleges: Engines for Economic and Social Prosperity"

6:00 - 7:00 pm Refreshments and Doctoral Student Presentations
7:00 - 8:00 pm Address by Dr. Francisco Rodriguez

Dr. Francisco Rodriguez is the chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District, the largest community college district in the nation with nine, accredited colleges, over 250,000 students enrolled, and an annual budget of $5.8 billion. 

A noted scholar and education activist, Dr. Rodriguez has 30 years of experience as an educator, faculty member, and administrator within California public higher education. Dr. Rodriguez has dedicated his career to high quality public education and championing diversity, equity and inclusion, and outreach to underserved communities. In particular, Dr. Rodriguez has focused his career on educational policies that expand access to higher education and financial aid, tireless advocacy for undocumented students and student-veterans, and the leadership development of young Latino and African American males.

Visit HERE for more information on the College of Education's Carpenter Lecture.

View past Charles Carpenter Lecture series speakers.