IVC presidential candidates meet public
IMPERIAL — Despite their varied backgrounds and current positions, the five candidates vying for the Imperial Valley College president/superintendent’s position on Tuesday expressed similar goals for the college, if given the opportunity to lead.
The five candidates appeared at a well-attended public forum at the campus and were subjected to a series of questions and each given a few minutes to respond.
While different candidates at times fielded different questions from the event moderator, the forum closed with each of them being asked to convey the extent of their commitment to the Valley community if appointed as IVC president.
The only local — and woman — among the bunch, Martha Garcia, who serves as IVC’s vice president for Student Services and acting vice president for Academic Services, said she would continue to do whatever is necessary to serve the students as best as possible.
Her commitment, she said, stems from the support she had received as a first-generation IVC student whose own personal and socioeconomic background reflects that of the of the current student body.
“This is a community that has provided so much to me,” Garcia said.
Los Angeles Mission College Vice President of Student Services Christopher Villa said the local campus’ demographics reflect those at his campus in the San Fernando Valley and that the opportunity to serve locally would build on his prior experiences and accomplishments.
“There’s something about the dynamic here that motivated me and got me excited about applying for the position,” Villa said. “I’m not interested in hopping around.”
Similarly, Robert Frost, current interim dean of the John Adams Campus of City College, San Francisco, said that after an extensive and storied career in higher education, he was looking for one last stint to serve as a crowning achievement.
“I’ll stay until my retirement 10 to 15 years from now,” Frost said.
Yuba College President G.H. Javaheripour said his vast higher education experience would be a good fit locally, as would his experience in serving disadvantaged rural communities, such as are found in Yuba and Imperial counties.
“The need in rural communities for education and training is never-ending,” Javaheripour said.
Crafton Hills College President Wei Zhou said that it was refreshing to see that IVC had a history of long-serving presidents who averaged about 10 years each at the helm, and that he would be no different.
In order to accomplish the academic and community-oriented goals Zhou said he envisioned undertaking as IVC president, he, too, would need to develop and implement a long-term strategy that would require intensive collaboration.
“It will take time, at least seven to eight years,” Zhou said.
The five candidates on Tuesday also made it clear to those present how their current and past positions provided them the experience and skills needed to set priorities, maintain fiscal responsibility, safeguard campus safety, negotiate employee contracts, and comply with the state’s shared governance mandate.
“I want to help them personally, and I want to help them systematically,” Villa said, in response to a question about his experiences positively impacting students’ lives.
When asked about the challenges facing the Valley and the campus community and how best to address them Zhou said he would listen to local stakeholders, enhance professional development and internship opportunities and capitalize on the area’s renewable energy and agricultural industry. “We definitely can offer a lot more than we have right now,” Zhou said. In response to the same question, Frost said he would focus on the already-established economic drivers, such as small businesses, health care, small manufacturing, education, agriculture and border trade.
“I think there’s tons of potential here in the Valley,” Frost said. When asked about employee contract negotiations and balancing the needs of the student body with those of the faculty and staff with limited resources, Javaheripour said he would rely on the advice of stakeholders to ensure fairness and equity. “We do what we have to do for student success, and we have to do it together,” he said. In response to a question about campus security, Garcia said she was instrumental in recently developing the position of emergency coordinator and Title IX coordinator, as well as overseeing the campus’ contract with the county Sheriff’s Office.
“I know that safety is a priority for an institution,” she said.
Today, all five candidates will meet with the IVC Board of Trustees behind closed doors during a special meeting. Announcement of the new president/superintendent is expected at May 16 board meeting.