The Citrus College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of the new vice president of student services on Jan. 19.
Richard Rams will officially be the vice president of student services, taking over from Arvid Spor after Spor’s retirement. The Jan. 19 board meeting was officially Spor’s last board of trustees meeting.
Rams was sent an interview request on Jan. 22 and has not responded for an interview.
The vice president of student services position was originally left open by Martha McDonald, who resigned Aug. 24. Spor took over that position and the vice president of academic affairs position.
According to the Cypress College Athletics biography page, Rams has 20 years of experience in higher education. He worked at Cypress College for 15 years as the dean of student support services, kinesiology & athletics.
Rams started at Cypress College in 2006 as the dean, where he was also the director of the extended opportunity programs and services. Rams was also responsible for financial aid, the veterans resource center, CARE/CalWORKS and student activities.
In November 2018, Rams was elected as the Buena Park Library trustee during the California general election. Rams’ term will be served through 2022. He also serves as the president of the Buena Park Library board of trustees as of December 2020.
Rams began working in higher education at the University of Kansas. He was the assistant director of financial aid from 2000-2003 and was in the athletics compliance liaison. There, he developed his expertise in athletics compliance and student support programs.
Rams became the financial aid director at Golden West College in 2003 while teaching as an adjunct faculty member.
From 2004 to 2005, Rams was the vice president of the California Community Colleges Student Financial Aid Administrators Association. He also served as the chair of the CCCSFAA federal issues committee. Rams received the Presidents Award in December 2005 at the 36th annual conference for his contributions to the association.
Two years later, Rams was named one of the “Top 40 under 40” entrepreneurs and executives in Orange County by OC Metro Magazine for excelling in higher education.
