“Creating opportunities for all is not optional, but it is essential for our communities if we are to thrive,” said Lataria Hall, Interim Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Institution at West Hills Community College.
The community packed into the Performing Arts Center earlier this week when four finalists vying for the superintendent position at College of the Canyons answered their questions.
“You know, I’m not the type of person who sits in my ivory tower and doesn’t leave it. I’m out there a lot,” said Marvin Martinez, Rancho Santiago Community College Chancellor.
The search for new candidates began in December, just over two months after David Andrus was removed from the interim president role. Now, the search concludes after each of the four finalists came to the Valencia campus to demonstrate why they are a proper fit for the job.
“The goal for the forums is to involve the campus community and the community at large,” said Eric Harnish, College of the Canyons Vice President for Public Information.
Students and community members were invited to sit in on the forums on Monday morning. The event was also live-streamed on Zoom, allowing the public to get a glimpse of the candidates both live and from the comfort of their homes.
“Every data point is a real human, every data point is a real person that we’re dealing with on a daily basis,” said Jeffrey Archibald, West Los Angeles College VP of Academic Affairs.
“I think that’s how you get around the political footballs, is – we’re all people at the end of the day, we have hopes, we have dreams, we have aspirations.”
From chancellors to vice presidents, each candidate’s background spoke to their experience, while they went on stage to showcase their ideals, their skills, and their hopes for COC’s future – its students, faculty, and community members.
“I really believe that as a leader I walk beside whoever is- I’m supposed to be leading. I can’t be out in the front because I won’t see where it is that they need to head,” said College of the Canyons’ current Interim President.
While our finalists came to speak to the community, the decision will ultimately be made by the board of trustees, and the new president is expected to begin their term at the start of July.
