Cabrera was asked by the board of regents to serve as interim president in January after NMC President Carmen Fernandez was suspended.
Cabrera, at the time, was the state director of the Adult Basic Education program.
“I’ve been extremely privileged to have the honor of serving as interim president these past few months, and I will continue serving in this capacity for as long as the board of regents need me to,” she said Cabrera.
However, she added, she has no plan to apply for the presidency once the vacancy is announced.
“I still have many plans for the ABE program and look forward to implementing those plans once a new president has been hired,” Cabrera said.
“The job of interim president has many challenges, but I’ve received overwhelming support from students, staff, faculty and even community members,” she said.
Former NMC instructor Samuel F. McPhetres said Cabrera’s qualifications are unquestionable.
As interim president, Cabrera assumed all the important duties and responsibilities of the president, including overseeing the entire operations of the college consistent with its constitutional mandate.
She is responsible for the organization and administration of the college and for the coordination of its entire instructional program.
She also provides direction and leadership in the development and implementation of a research, planning, and evaluation system to assure institutional effectiveness.
She oversees institutional adherence to accreditation standards, prepares a budget in line with the needs of the college, guides capital improvement activities to ensure safe and adequate facilities and grounds for the students on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian, and represents the college to institutional partners in the CNMI and abroad.
Cabrera said the president’s job frequently requires late night work sessions, attendance at off-island meetings, weekend events and activities — “all of which can sometimes reduce the personal time I have with my young children,” she added.
“Perhaps when my children are older I will consider taking other leadership roles at the college,” she said.
Cabrera has been with the NMC for more than 15 years.
She has served as an administrator, an instructor and a governance body leader.
She also served as the first Staff Senate president and has taught in psychology, sociology, history and current issues.
She worked as a counselor then director of the Educational Talent Search program for nine years and has been the Adult Basic Education state director for the past five years.
//
