This week's newsmakers
By CC Times, Published May 24, 2010

New CEOS

Loretta Adrian will serve as the new president of Coastline Community College (California), effective July 1. Adrian has more than 20 years of experience in the California community college system and has extensive experience working in large multi-college districts, such as San Mateo County and San Diego. She currently serves as vice president of student services at Skyline College.

Daniel LaVista is the new chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District (California), effective Aug. 1. Since 2004, LaVista has served as executive director of Virginia's Council of Higher Education, where he oversees and coordinates 39 community colleges and universities. Previously, he served as executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Glenn Mayle is now the interim president of Arizona Western College (AWC). Mayle previously served AWC as an instructor (1971-1975), assistant dean of instruction (1975-1977) and dean of instruction (1977-1984). After leaving AWC, Mayle continued his career as a community college president for 25 years, including Treasure Valley Community College (Oregon), Gavilan College (California) and Northeastern A&M (Oklahoma).

Paul Young is the new president of the Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD). Young currently serves as the executive dean of Gillette College (Wyoming) and vice president for institutional effectiveness at the district, positions he has held since 2005. Prior coming to NWCCD, he served as head of the office of information technology at the Wentworth Institute of Technology (Massachusetts). He has also served as dean of the School of Business and associate professor at Husson College (Maine). 

CEO Kudos

Donald Reichard is the first former president of Johnston Community College (JCC) in North Carolina to receive emeritus status. He is the second president in JCC’s history, and joined the college in 1999 after serving as president of James Sprunt Community College for 10 years. Reichard retired in June 2009 after working 37 years in community college education.

Appointments

Lisa Altomare is the new annual giving and special events coordinator of the foundation at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania. Previously, Altomare worked as a solution provider with Alcom, an integrated marketing and graphic communication company.   

Joseph Bekken is the new financial aid director at North Idaho College. Bekken previously worked in financial aid at Grand Canyon University (Arizona). He began his career in 2003 as a financial intake specialist at the University of Phoenix.

Jeff Bosworth was appointed academic director of veteran affairs at University of Cincinnati-Clermont College (Ohio). Most recently, he served as acting command master chief—the senior enlisted liaison between the commanding officer and the local reservist community—at U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Ohio.

John Deserable was appointed dean of administrative services at Salem Community College in New Jersey. He will oversee financial operations, human resources, safety and security and campus operations.

Leigh Grogan is the new vice chancellor for fiscal services for the Alabama Community College System. Previously, Grogan served as the director of fiscal and administrative services for the state’s department of postsecondary education, which oversees the system. Prior to that, she served at Trenholm State Technical College (Alabama) as dean of finance and administrative services.

Shirley Lawler is the new vice president for academic affairs at Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) in Missouri. Lawler currently serves as the college’s associate vice president for academic affairs. She began her career as a high school business instructor and later taught at Missouri State University. She has served at OTC for the last 13 years in various posts, including dean of technical education, dean of academic services and director of curriculum development and grants. 

Susan Neimand, director of the School of Education at Miami Dade College’s InterAmerican Campus (Florida), is the new liaison for the Florida State Colleges system to the executive board of the Florida Association of Colleges–Teacher Education.

Lisa Wheeler was appointed to vice president of student affairs at Normandale Community College in Minnesota. Most recently. she served as interim vice chancellor of administration and finance at the University of Wisconsin River Falls.

At Harrisburg Area Community College (Pennsylvania): Virgil Ganescu was appointed dean of technology for the Harrisburg Campus; Dennis Heinle was appointed director of the Alex Grass Institute for Business Leadership and the Professional Development Institute and Rob Steinmetz was appointed vice president of student affairs and enrollment management. Ganescu will provide curricular leadership for all programs in the computer, engineering and industrial technology departments. Part of Heinle’s responsibilities include developing and implementing executive education programs, workshops, seminars, conferences and training events relating to leadership. Steinmetz is responsible for college-wide vision, leadership and strategic direction related to the student service, retention and learning support areas for both traditional classroom and online students.

Kudos

Valerie Richardson, vice president of Gadsden State Community College (Alabama), was recently honored by the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama as a 2010 Woman of Distinction. The award is presented annually to recognize area women who demonstrate excellence in various fields such as education, business, government, volunteer services, multicultural activities and Girl Scouting. 

Suzanne Valery, director of institutional grants at Allan Hancock College in California, is one of 20 education leaders to be selected as a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fellow.  Valery will participate in a three-week collaboration with USDA through the E. (Kika) De La Garza Fellowship to gain insight and understanding of the federal government and education policymaking. The fellowship is administered by the USDA Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program.