Wondering who has gone where? ACCCA gives you the scoop on which community college leaders have taken on new leadership roles and which ones have hung up their hats and retired. Check out the latest addition to Administrators on the Move!

Last Updated: June 2010 

Christopher O’Hearn has been selected to serve as interim superintendent/president at Victor Valley College. Prior to the appointment, O’Hearn served as Victor Valley’s chief instructional officer and chief student services officer, reporting directly to the superin-tendent/president. He also served as the college’s Accreditation Liaison Officer. He received an A.A. degree in English from El Camino College in Torrance, CA; a B.A. degree in English Literature from Loyola University in Los Angeles, CA; a M.A. degree in Twentieth Century British Literature from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; a M. Ed. Degree in Educational Administration from Loyola Marymount University; and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dawn Lindsay has been selected as president of Glendale Community College after serving in an interim capacity since July 2009. Lindsay came to GCC as vice president of instructional services in 2007 and was named executive vice president two years later. Her previous position was dean of instruction at Riverside Community College—Norco. She began at the Norco campus as the dean of student services in 2002 and then assumed the duties of dean of academic and student affairs. She was promoted to dean of instruction in 2004. Lindsey holds an Ed.D. in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University. She also has a M.Ed. in educational counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Maryland College.

Deborah Blue is the new chancellor at State Center Community College District as of July 1, 2010. Currently, Blue serves as vice chancellor for Contra Costa Community College District. Previously, she served as associate dean at Fresno City College from 1991 to 1994. Blue earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign, and a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology, with a minor in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Deborah Hirsh will begin as vice chancellor of human resources for the Coast Community College District on July 1, 2010. Hirsh has over 20 years of human resources experience, including many years in the United States Navy. Most recently, she served as the senior associate vice chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District. Hirsh earned an MBA from California State University, Stanislaus and a BA in Anthropology and Physics from the University of Colorado.

DeRionne Pollard, president of Las Positas College, has been named the new president of Montgomery College in Maryland. On March 3, 2008, Pollard assumed her position as the fourth president of Las Positas College. She became the first African American president at the college and within the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District. Pollard received her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in Higher Education from Loyola University in Chicago, and both her Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in English from Iowa State University.

Gaither Loewenstein is the new president of Modesto Junior College effective July 1, 2010. Loewenstein is currently vice president of Norco College in the Riverside Community College District jurisdiction. He has over 16 years experience as a college administrator, 11 in the California community college system and the last four as vice president at Norco. Loewenstein received his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware (1983) in Urban Affairs. He received his Masters Degree from Wichita State University (1980), also in Urban Affairs. His Bachelor of Science degree is from the University of the Pacific (1979) B.S. in Public Administration.

Harriett Robles, president of Mission College in Santa Clara, retired at the end of the 2010 academic year after 29 years with the West Valley-Mission Community College District. Appointed interim president of the college in 2006, she accepted the permanent position in 2007. Previously, she had been Mission’s vice president of Instruction after transferring from West Valley College where she served in a variety of roles, including dean of instruction, and matriculation coordinator. Combining teaching and administrative positions, Robles has worked in education for 35 years.

Jill Board has been named the president of Cerro Coso Community College. For the Kern Community College District, Board was a member of the Management Negotiations Team, meeting in negotiations with both the faculty and classified (support staff) unions. She served on the District Vice Presidents Committee and participated on steering committees to implement district wide technology operational plans and software. Board has a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington.

Loretta (Lori) Adrian is the new president of Coastline Community College as of July 1, 2010. Adrian currently serves as the vice president of student services at Skyline College in San Mateo, Cal. She 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. Adrian earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education in 2004 from Claremont Graduate University. She also has a M.A. in Communication Theory from University of the Pacific.

Marilyn Meyer-Behringer has been named vice president of instruction at Reedley College. Behringer currently serves as the dean of instruction, business division at Fresno City College. She has served as the dean of instruction, business division for the past seven years. Prior to that Behringer was an instructor of computer information systems, coordinator of student success and department chair at Fresno City College. Behringer received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and her master’s degree in applied computer systems from California State University, Fresno. She received her Ed.D. in educational leadership from UC Davis and California State University, Fresno.

Rajen Vurdien has been appointed the president of Fullerton College. He will assume his new position on July 19. Vurdien came to the United States in 1985 from China, where as a United Nations volunteer working for the United Nations Development Program, he taught English and ran the United Nations language programs. Most recently, he served as vice president for instruction at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Vurdien’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Upper Brittany, Rennes, France, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the Mauritius Institute of Education. He went on to complete a Master of Education and a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education, with a focus on the Psychology of Reading, at Temple University, Philadelphia, and a Master of Business Administration from Long Island University.

Serena Muindi is the new associate vice chancellor of finance/chief financial officer at Contra Costa Community College District. Muindi will oversee the accounting and finance, payroll and purchasing functions for the District. She brings to the District over 16 years of finance and budget experience within the California Community College System. Her prior position was director of fiscal services/controller at the San Jose Evergreen Community College District, with responsibility for accounting, pur-chasing, payroll, budget and grants departments. Muindi has an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix and began her business and finance career in accounting at I.B.M.

Stuart Savin is the new president at Cuyamaca College. Savin brings a background that comple-ments and enhances the strengths and successes of Cuyamaca College in serving our students and community. Most recently serving as chief executive officer for Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster Campus, in Pennsylvania, Savin oversaw a $24 million budget and was responsible for directing the overall operations, including academic affairs, enrollment management, counseling and retention, business and administrative services, security and facilities, human resources, non-credit sales and campus development.