Freddy Hernandez and Jacqueline R. Torres
Who is Robert Garber and why does he want to be the 19th president of Pierce College?
The newly chosen college president, Garber, has a desire to make Pierce memorable for those who, like him, started higher education at community college–the “place where it all began.”
He replaced interim president Tom Oliver on Feb.1 under a contract that will end June 30, 2008.
Garber compares the many challenges of running a college in the midst of a $300 million “Master Plan” reconstruction to a time when he once attempted to stand on the very top of a 25-foot telephone pole. He said it was part of a team building exercise and he was the only one “foolish enough to try it.”
“It’s sort of this strange dance to get all the pieces where they need to be, without stepping on the other pieces.” Garber said.
“That’s what it’s like to have to build [the “Master Plan”], move classes from here to there then back. And at the same time consider enrollment and keep everything working for people.”
Garber was chosen in December by the Los Angeles Community College District board of trustees, after a nationwide search conducted by the Presidential Selection Committee–followed by a precedent-setting public forum.
“It was our job to narrow the search down to the top three,” said Tyree Wieder, chair of the selection committee and president of Los Angeles Valley College. “The board of trustees interviewed [the finalists] and made their decision based on that.”
With more than three decades working in community college education, this will be the first time he takes on the role of president as he returns to Pierce from a 10-year vice presidency at San Diego Miramar College.
“The fact is there’s not a huge transition.” Garber said of becoming president. “All of the elements of the job I have done through many years, so coming into the presidency, it’s really more a re-organization of priorities than it is learning new tasks.”
Garber began his academic career first as a substitute teacher at West Los Angeles College in 1976 and continuing on to Pierce in 1977 where he remained for 19 years.
In that time he was counselor, department chair, director of school relations, associate dean of student development and dean of student services.
“Rocky” Darroch Young, a former Pierce president and current chancellor of the LACCD board of trustees, described Garber as, “an excellent choice for the new President of Pierce College. His history and past experience at the college have proven him an exceptional leader.”†
The revolving door of presidential authority has been a pressing issue for the college in the process of revamping buildings, technology and the farm’s agricultural roots in the community.
Although his contract is for two years Garber expressed that he wishes to stay longer.
“I have no intention of moving anywhere,” Garber said. “This is where I’ll be for as long as I continue to work.”
In the time he spent at Pierce and all the many roles he played, Garber has had a hand in many of the student services unique to the campus.
In the late 70s the Health Center was more of a high school type of nurses office according to Garber.
“I worked not only to get support for a health center here but to get the entire district to buy into the health center concept,” Garber said.
The change came when Proposition 73 was passed by voters which allowed the board of trustees to impose and change a student health fee.
Among other innovations Garber helped to institute was a change to the online services provided to the community.
“I took the lead of the team that built a district wide portal and a standard of how we offer online classes.” Garber said.
The impact Garber will have as a president is yet to be seen.
“I think, realistically, the first 100 days, I’ll use to get back in sync with Pierce College.” Garber said.
“But it’s a learning process…I can’t say that I went to school and started taking ‘College President 101.'”
Garber started his education at Santa Monica College, but only atttened class for about a month.
When the call to service rang, “I ran off with my draft notice in hand to join the U.S. Air Force.” Garber recalled.
He retunred to college as a veteran at West L.A. College and eventually graduated from University of California at Berkeley.
“Both the good and bad of it gave me a great deal of perspective on my experience” Garber said
“I think it made me a better teacher, councilor [and] administrator in terms of understanding the convoluted root that all of us take toward whatever becomes of us in our lives.”
The challenges for some students coming face to face with crossing our threshold can be very terrifying.”
Garber said he will continue trying to catch people in the community and give them them a fair chance at education.
“He applied for the job because he wanted to be the president of not just any college, but Pierce College specifically.” Said Young, who was the 17th president of the college.
(Diego Cortez)