Veteran P.E. Teacher Named College Dean

Steve Tobias, chairman of Ventura College’s physical education department and a longtime county resident, has been promoted to dean of the college’s health science, physical education and criminal justice programs.

Tobias, a 1967 graduate of Ventura College whose district teaching career spans 24 years, will assume the position immediately.

“I’m a native, born and raised here, so it’s hard not to be involved,” Tobias said. “This is my home and I’m very thrilled to have the opportunity to serve. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

The board unanimously approved Tobias’ appointment this week.

“Steve Tobias has been active in the district in every way, shape and form,” Trustee Allan Jacobs said. “If we had a staff full of Tobiases, there is no question we would be better off than we are now.”

Tobias joined the district in 1971 as a instructor of health and physical education at Ventura College. He also coached football, baseball and woman’s track before moving to Oxnard College in 1981 to head the school’s athletics division for one year.

He then returned to teaching at Ventura College where he served as president of the academic senate from 1990 to 1993. In 1992, he was named chairman of the physical education department.

The departments Tobias will now oversee were recently reorganized under a single dean. The previous dean of health sciences, Catherine Collins, died last year. Oversight of the criminal justice department, with only two full-time instructors, has shifted from one division to another during the past three years.