Procurement

Priya Jerome joined the South Orange County Community College District in 2018 as the Executive Director of Procurement, Central Services and Risk Management, and oversees the District’s purchasing, contracting, central services (warehouse and mailroom), and risk management programs. She has over 22 years of experience in managing complex supply chain activities at a global scale in private industry and within the California public educational system. At the District, she leads a centralized division supporting the two colleges with a deep understanding of distinctive business needs in education, high currency in codes, statutes and regulations, and a unique private sector perspective for customer service and process improvements. Priya is actively involved in several state organizations in support of community college procurement and risk management initiatives. Priya is the Vice President of the board for the Protected Insurance Program for Schools and Community Colleges (PIPS), a joint powers authority which is responsible for workers’ compensation insurance claims. She is the Vice Chair of the Underwriting Committee for the Statewide Association of Community Colleges (SWACC), which is responsible for property and liability insurance. She is also a select member of the CollegeBuys program (Foundation for CA Community Colleges, an arm of the CA Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office) advisory group that contributes system-wide towards leveraging combined/streamlining purchasing powers, total cost of ownership, and shared best practices. Within the advisory group, she additionally contributes as a co-chair in the Legislative and Policy Workgroup. Priya holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Queensland Institute of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.