CYPRESS : College Names Vice President

Larry Mercadante has been named Cypress College’s vice president of student development services, college officials recently announced.

Mercadante has been a member of the faculty of Cypress College since the campus was founded 25 years ago.

For the past 13 years, he has served as dean of the physical education division. In addition, he acted as interim fine arts dean during the 1991-92 school year.

Mercadante replaces Ken Nakano, who vacated the position earlier this year.

As the new vice president in charge of student development, Mercadante said his main goal is to build a sense of community among the various student services.

“I’ve basically been in charge of every aspect of student services at one time or another,” he said. “This is a new challenge for me, a chance to motivate myself in a different way.”

Mercadante hopes to draw on his 25 years of experience at the campus to help the college through a difficult time when Cypress and other community colleges are facing severe budget cuts.

He remains confident that eventually the budget woes will improve.

“I’m real optimistic that times will change. . . . I look forward to the good times,” he said.

Mercadante’s appointment becomes effective July 1.