Elliot Golan/Roundup
The Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD) Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Daniel LaVista as the next Chancellor.
LaVista has been serving as Director of the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia since 2004. He will take office as chancellor on Aug. 1, 2010.
The board chose LaVista out of a final group of five candidates. Each candidate went through three days of interviewing, according to Mona Field, president of the LACCD Board of Trustees.
The board declined to release the names of the other finalists.
“It’s our most important job,” said Field. “He impressed the board with his grasp of the situation.”
Interim Chancellor Dr. Tyree Wieder will remain in her current position through LaVista’s arrival. After he takes over, Wieder will remain with the district office, assisting in the transition.
Wieder’s office declined comment, but in a letter wrote that she was, “delighted that our district will be in such good hands with Dr. LaVista as our new chancellor.”
LaVista served as chancellor of Baltimore County’s Community Colleges between 1995 and 1997, but was fired in January of that year after reportedly being at odds with the board of trustees there.
“The problem was the board and not him,” said Field. “We don’t think it was him.”
Field said that LaVista’s desire to get students where they need to go, whether it be transfer or vocational training, was key to his selection.
“He is totally devoted to student success,” said Field.
More updates to come.
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