Chancellor: be a lifelong learner

By Astrid Verdugo

Pima Community College Chancellor Roy Flores says his ambition while growing up in East Chicago was to work at the local steel mill. Because of a recession, he didn’t get the job.

Flores decided to join the Air Force instead, and served for four years.

Though he was born in Laredo, Texas, and lived in Indiana before moving to Chicago, Flores said his time in the military enlightened his understanding of America’s diversity.

“I learned that the country didn’t look like East Chicago. It was broader and bigger,” he said. “We knew distinctively from movies what the rest of the country was like but to actually know someone with different experiences, background, foods and customs … it was fascinating!”

Flores later received a master’s degree in economics and a doctorate in monetary theory and regional economics at Indiana State University.

He worked at the U.S. Department of State as an economic adviser in Washington D.C., where he says he obtained a sense of the important roles that community colleges play.

Flores was a chief administrative officer at Northern Virginia Community College in charge of finances, physical plant and information technology. He also served as president at Allegheny Community College in Pittsburgh and president at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Ill.

He has been PCC’s chancellor since 2003.

His advice to PCC students is to be open to new ideas.

“Find joy in doing a job really well for its own sake,” he said. “Master whatever it is you are doing, and do it well.

“If you want to learn how to dance, for example, then learn it as best as you can and you’ll feel good about it.

“Or if you want to shoot basketball, improve yourself so that you are comfortable with the game. You don’t have to be a Kobe Bryant.

“If it’s playing an instrument, just master it and do it well,” he added. “Or if you buy a computer, learn how to use it really well, so that you are comfortable with it.”

Flores suggests that students try to see connections among the courses they take, whether it’s psychology, writing or Japanese history. Read things related to the topic of study, just for enjoyment.

“Try to understand other societies, and how they view the world,” Flores sad.

“Go online, and search the Web,” he added. “These are things I certainly didn’t have when I was in school. The Web will give you entertainment, knowledge and everything else. So, try to find out what’s going on in other worlds — find out everything you can.”

Flores emphasized that doing so will reinforce the subject matter the student is taking. He also stressed the need to do things for pleasure and not just for work.

“I don’t think you could be successful in something you find distasteful,” Flores said. “You could get by and pass the class, but you’ll feel really good if you strive to master, improve and find joy in it.”

Flores enjoys approaching the world like a child and being open to everything. Because of his curiosity and thirst for learning, he channel surfs while watching television.

“Whether I see something obscure about the depths of the oceans, like discovering some plant, or fish or life no one had dreamed existed, or something real mundane like how to cook the best apple pie, I can’t help but learn,” Flores said. “My mind can focus on anything that is available at the moment.”

His professional duties include serving on the board of directors of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

A typical day for the chancellor includes waking up at 4:30 a.m. He checks his computer for e-mails and for the local temperature, then stretches for a seven-mile run.

“With any job, it’s important to be physically fit, and that’s the truth of it,” Flores said.

“On my way to work, I’ll call the office,” he added. “Typically my calendar is well crafted, and it’s full. You try to stick to it, but sometimes the unexpected happens, so it has to be modified significantly.”

He meets with the vice chancellor, campus presidents and others to talk about issues and opportunities on a wide variety of topics. He deals with the legislature, works with universities and interacts with community college colleagues.

“Basically, that’s a regular full day,” Flores said. “Then you figure out it is 5 o’clock, and you wrap it up for the day.”