Cerritos College Board Appoints James Cody Birkey to Fill Vacancy

James Cody BirkeyThe Cerritos College Board of Trustees voted on June 7 to appoint James Cody Birkey to fill a vacancy in Trustee Area #3 left by now-retired Trustee John Paul Drayer.

Of six candidates to replace Drayer, four were interviewed at the June 7 regular board meeting. Birkey is a Bellflower resident and serves as a vice president at JLL, a global real estate company, where he advises public institutions regarding strategic capital investments. 

Birkey holds bachelor’s degrees in architecture (cum laude) and international economics (cum laude) from the University of Oregon. He also has a Master in Design Studies in real estate economics and finance (with distinction) from Harvard University where he was awarded the Mansfield-Colloredo Prize for achievement in the field. Birkey has lectured at several institutions in the fields of design and economics. He is active in several non-profits and social justice initiatives in Southeast Los Angeles County and elsewhere. Birkey will be sworn in at the June 21 board meeting and will serve the remainder of Drayer’s term that ends in 2018.

-END-