Hosted by Michael Sharp & Erik Alanson
Listen to Episode 5 of the Experience Magazine™️ Podcast with Dr. David Bird of Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon.
About Dr. David Bird
Dr. Bird received his Ph.D. in Family Studies from Oregon State University in 1990. Previously he obtained a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Relations from Brigham Young University. He also graduated from Ricks College with an associate’s degree. He currently is the Department Chair Cooperative Work Experience Department at Linn Benton Community College (LBCC) in Albany Oregon. Dr. Bird has served as the CWE Coordinator at LBCC for the past 6 years. Prior to being the CWE Coordinator he was an instructor at LBCC in the departments of Education/Child Development and Criminal Justice. Dr. Bird was a Counselor for 27 years before joining LBCC, during that time he served as the President of the Oregon Council on Family Relations and served a three-year term as a board member for the Oregon Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. David has received honors for his teaching skills when he was awarded the “Outstanding part time faculty award at LBCC as well as teaching awards at both BYU and OSU. At OSU he was given the “Professor of the Term” award by the honor society. In his role as CWE Coordinator, Dr. Bird has been a member of the Workforce Committee at LBCC. This committee plays a vital part in developing programs and strategies with local businesses, the local chambers and the college programs to enhance the opportunities for student job placement to meet the demands of the growing workforce. Additionally, he has served as the CEIA’s Vice President of the Two-Year Program Network. And developed the Oregon Statewide Cooperative Work Experience Consortium. Currently he serves as Co-Director of the annual CTE Signing Day event on campus. This event recruits incoming students for LBCC’s CTE programs which has become a major LBCC activity for the college. During his tenure as CWE Coordinator, Dr. Bird has played a vital role in the college’s growth in both Internships and CWE opportunities. In the past 6 years LBCC has tripled the size of its Welding program, doubled the Machine Tool, Mechatronics, Heavy Diesel Mechanic, Medical Assistant and CADD programs, as well as developed a new Non-Destructive Testing Program. All of these programs require CWE courses for graduation. Besides loving his job and being in a community that is experiencing tremendous growth in manufacturing and medical health occupations, David loves being a grandpa of 8 grandsons and 3 granddaughters! He loves salmon fishing, woodworking and even writes a little fiction now and then.