Melissa Meek / Roundup
When David Follosco became interim vice president, it put him in a better position to oversee student services.
Follosco was appointed vice president of student services Sept. 2 by Joy McCaslin, Ph.D, who is serving as interim president.
“There were a number of candidates interviewed, and he was selected. I’m very happy with this choice,” said McCaslin, who has known him for 20 years.
Follosco, who was previously dean of student services, took on the job after McCaslin was named interim president following Robert Garber’s abrupt departure to care for his son.
“It’s an experience,” he said.
Born and raised in the Valley, he got his associate’s degree at Los Angeles Valley College before transferring to California State University, Northridge for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
His first job in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) was a student worker at Los Angeles Mission College. He was a peer advisor in the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOP&S) while he obtained his master’s degree. He was then hired at as counselor in 1979.
Follosco has held positions at five different campuses in the district, including EOP&S director at Mission and at Los Angeles City College for four years.
He was also vice president of student services at West Los Angeles College for ten years before coming to Pierce College. He has been at Pierce for three years.
“My biggest goal is to see how much we can get done and be as creative as possible so we can continue to provide services,” he said.
Follosco said the preliminary reports from each service have just come in and they’re still looking them over to find out what areas to cut. He stressed that all programs would remain running, but some would be cut back. Some, he said, have been cut have as much as 32-33 percent.
“Nothing is being cut completely, but we’ll have to deal with less,” he said.
The cuts, however, have been a hot topic well before the start of the semester.
“One of the things McCaslin did before she became president was ask all the (service) managers to take a real critical look at their budgets and come up with worst case scenarios,” he said. “(We asked) what are you going to do if you’re cut by 15 percent or 30 percent?”
Despite all the cuts from various programs, Follosco’s main concern is still the students.
“It’s going to be a very tough year for students,” he said. “The critical thing this year is the budget and how we’re going to survive with limited funds and maintain the services that our students need.”
Once a new college president is chosen by the LACCD, both Follosco and McCaslin will return to their previous positions. Follosco had “absolutely no idea” who was planning on running for president.
Follosco, who has two grown children, Daniel and David, and five grandchildren, likes to read, exercise and ski in his spare time.
“(I go to) mostly Big Bear, but I like Mammoth or Tahoe when I can get away,” he said.
The hardest part of the job for Follosco?
“Long days,” he joked. “Weekends and nights and checking my e-mail whenever I get the chance. It’s part of the job. I knew what I was getting into.”
McCaslin feels confident that Follosco will succeed as interim vice president.
“He has a wealth of experience in student services. Students like and respect him, and so do his colleagues,” she said.
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New interim president David Follosco’s main concerns are the budget and the students (Louie Heredia )