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District Press Releases - 2006
10/11/06
District Chancellor Announces Retirement
(Pleasanton, CA) - Dr. Susan Cota, Chancellor of the Chabot-Las
Positas Community College District, has announced her retirement effective
August 2007.
Citing a desire to spend time with family and friends, Dr. Cota expressed
her thanks to the Board of Trustees and the district staff for their support
during her six year tenure as district chancellor. “The thought of retirement
fills me with excitement, yet it is also tinged with a touch of sadness,”
said Dr. Cota in a message to district and college staff members. “After
more than 30 years in the California Community Colleges, 16 years in this
district specifically, it is time for me to chart a new direction.”
“Chancellor Cota has led this district with strength and integrity,
always putting our students first in every conversation and decision,”
said Isobel Dvorsky, President of the district Board of Trustees. “Her
leadership has been recognized at the national, state and local levels, and
our district and communities are much better for having her as our leader.”
Named to the position in 2001, Dr. Cota has led the district, which operates
Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore. The two colleges
together serve more than 22,000 students in the San Francisco East Bay Area.
Dr. Cota was the first Hispanic female chancellor in California and in the
district’s 40-year history. She is one of only three female Hispanic
chancellors in the California Community College system.
As Chancellor, Dr. Cota worked with college and district staff to launch a
district wide strategic cost management study to establish ongoing fiscal
stability for the district. In 2002 she worked closely with the Board and
staff in the investment and purchase of the district office building in Pleasanton.
In 2004 she led a massive district and community-wide effort in the successful
passage of Measure B, a $498 million facilities bond and the third largest
bond in California Community College history. The strength of her leadership
resulted in the passage of the bond by 59% of the voters. She also led the
district through a successful accreditation visit resulting in reaffirmed
accreditation through 2009.
Prior to being named District Chancellor, she served as President and Dean
of Students at Las Positas College where she was instrumental in forecasting
the growth of the college and creating a culture that embraced growth and
change. She worked with faculty and staff to implement online education, which
continues to outpace other community colleges. She established a partnership
with ValleyCare Health System to create the College’s first comprehensive
Health Center.
Before joining the district she was the Dean of Students at College of Alameda,
and served in the State Chancellor’s Office as the Director of the Disability
Services where she established the disabled students’ workability program
for the State’s 109 community colleges.
She has served on the boards of several state and national organizations including
the American Association of Community Colleges and the Community College Leadership
Development Initiatives organization. She is currently a member of the Pleasanton
Rotary Club and the Tri-Valley Education Council.
In 2004 she was named a Distinguished District Administrator by the Chabot
College Faculty Senate and in 2005 she received the prestigious Harry Buttimer
Award from the Association of California Community College Administrators
for her exemplary service as a community college chief executive officer.
Dr. Cota received her doctorate from the University of San Francisco in Organizational
Leadership in Higher Education, her master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation
Counseling from San Francisco State University and a bachelor’s degree
in English from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She is also a graduate
of the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents.
The Board of Trustees expects to launch a nationwide search for Dr. Cota’s
replacement.
10/9/06
Board Appoints Pleasanton Resident to Measure B Citizens’ Oversight Committee
(Pleasanton, CA) - Patrick Lofft of Pleasanton has been appointed
to the district’s Measure B Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
Lofft retired last year from the position of Manger Internal Control with
the U.S. Postal Service Bay Valley District after serving 40 years in several
managerial positions. He assisted the USPS Bay Valley District managerial
team in achieving national recognition among the 80 USPS districts.
Lofft earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and an
officers’ commission in the US Army at Canisius College in Buffalo,
NY. He performed his military service at Fort Bliss, Texas as liaison officer
to foreign national battalions in training from NATO and Military Assistance
Program countries.
He also serves the Pleasanton community as a bereavement minister with the
Catholic Communities of Pleasanton, and as chairperson for library docents
with the Livermore-Amador Valley Genealogical Society.
As a member of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee, Lofft will work with
other Committee members to monitor the financial performance of the district’s
Measure B bond projects.
Lofft replaces Robert Tucknott as the Alameda County Taxpayers Association’s
representative. Tucknott’s term on the Committee expired this summer.
2/28/06
Chancellor Wins Prestigious Award
(Pleasanton, CA) - Dr. Susan Cota, chancellor of the Chabot-Las
Positas Community College District in Pleasanton has been named the recipient
of the 2006 Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award by the Association
of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA).
Established in 1986 to honor the memory of the late Harry Buttimer, a founding
member of ACCCA who helped establish the organization as a stakeholder in
college finance and legislation, the award recognizes a community college
chief executive officer who demonstrates integrity, principle, compassion,
strength in leadership, contributions to colleagues and the profession, and
contributions to the college and community.
Dr. Cota is the former president of Las Positas College in Livermore where
she served for eight years. As district chancellor she holds the top position
in the district which operates Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College.
The two colleges together serve more than 22,000 students in the East Bay
area. Dr. Cota is the first Hispanic female chancellor in the district’s
40-year history. In addition, she was the first female Hispanic chancellor
in the California Community College system.
Prior to serving as president of Las Positas College, Dr. Cota served as dean
of students at Las Positas. Before joining the district she was the dean of
students at College of Alameda, and has served in the State Chancellor’s
Office as the director of the disability services program for the state’s
108 community colleges.
Dr. Cota received her doctorate from the University of San Francisco in Organizational
Leadership in Higher Education, her master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation
Counseling from San Francisco State University and a bachelor’s degree
in English from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She is also a graduate
of the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents.
She has served on the boards of several state and national organizations including
her current service to the American Association of Community Colleges. She
is currently a member of the Pleasanton Rotary Club and the Tri-Valley Education
Council.
1/23/06
Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Names New Director of Economic Development/Contract Education
(Pleasanton, CA) - The Chabot-Las Positas Community College
District has appointed Julia A. Dozier to the role of Director of Economic
Development and Contract Education. In her new position, Dozier will plan
all aspects of the self-sustaining Training & Development Solutions program.
Working with both small and large companies as well as government agencies,
the department markets, sells and delivers training and consulting services
for public and private sector organizations within the District’s service
area. The Economic Development and Contract Education Department is an integral
part of the District’s economic and workforce development efforts emerging
from its two colleges, Chabot College in Hayward, and Las Positas College
in Livermore.
“Julia’s strong background in program planning and administration
combined with her in-depth knowledge of this program makes her the perfect
candidate for this position,” according to Joel Kinnamon, Vice Chancellor
of Educational Services and Planning.
Dozier has been with the District since 2001, serving in various roles in
Training & Development Solutions and the Economic Development/Contract
Education unit. Prior to joining the District, Dozier had a career in non-profit
program administration, including working with U.C. Berkeley, the Contra Costa
County Office of Education, and Habitat for Humanity, International.
“Contract Education continues to be a resource that many businesses
desperately need, but don’t realize is available to them,” states
Ms. Dozier. “We have an extensive pool of training professionals from
a myriad of fields, ranging from welding to English as a Second Language to
management skills. We design programs to address the gaps that employers often
see between their employees’ current skills, and what they need to be
able to excel at their jobs.”
Dozier holds a Bachelor’s degree from U.C. Berkeley, and is currently
working on her Masters of Educational Administration with a focus on Adult
Education, through the University of South Dakota.
For further information or to schedule training, please contact Julia Dozier
at 925-485-5234 or at www.tdsolutions.org
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