Finalists for Oxnard College Chief Rejected

The chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District has rejected the two finalists for the post of Oxnard College president and ordered another nationwide search that could last several months.

Citing a number of written concerns about the two candidates from students, faculty and community members, Chancellor Philip Westin announced this week that the college’s 12-person search committee must begin anew.

“It was a style thing,” said district spokeswoman Patricia Kistler, adding that a majority of those who offered an opinion after a recent forum felt that neither candidate was “the right fit.”

“The community and this college are so intertwined--the community sees this college as its education mecca for the area--and Dr. Westin knew he had to go with what the community told him,” Kistler said.

Al Fernandez, a consultant who was paid $20,000 to organize the first search, said such last-minute decisions occur only about 10% of the time in his experience.

“Oxnard College is in a critical phase in its development right now,” Fernandez said. “Dr. Westin’s take was probably that neither candidate was really ready to take the college where it needs to go.”

The campus, which serves 7,782 students, is facing rising enrollment and a need for more facilities and books. In addition to those concerns, officials want someone who will improve the campus’ relationship with the community and establish a partnership with Cal State Channel Islands.

Westin’s announcement surprised committee members, who spent six months winnowing dozens of resumes, finally narrowing the field to James Williams, president at Arapahoe Community College near Denver, and Francisco Arce, dean of instruction at Diablo Valley College in Contra Costa County.

Although the committee was aware that Westin has the final say, Kistler said no one predicted the outcome of a campus forum Sept. 27, during which residents, students, faculty and others met the finalists for the first time.

During and after the forum, Westin received more than 100 written comment cards and e-mails from people who had attended or watched a replay on video or cable television.

Arce came across as serious and soft-spoken, talking for an hour about his family and career, while Williams spent little time talking about himself and peppered many responses with light humor and anecdotes.

Fernandez said the decision to start a new search was based largely on finding a presidential candidate who is moderately outspoken and who “can hit the ground running.”

No one involved in the search said that either candidate lacked the proper experience or platform.

While Arce declined through his secretary to comment Wednesday, Williams said he was disappointed but had been in a similar situation before.

Several years ago, Williams was a finalist for the chancellor’s position at a Spokane college when officials there decided to start anew. As for the Oxnard situation, Williams said, “I’m not the person they want.”

Williams, 56, is a semifinalist for presidential posts at Modesto Junior College and Rio Hondo College in Whittier.

While Fernandez and the committee continue the search for a new president--for which Fernandez will only be reimbursed for expenses--retired educator Tom Harris of Merced is moving to Oxnard to take over as interim president.

Harris retired in 1999 as chancellor of North Orange County Community College District and served as the superintendent of Merced Community College District. He is one of several retired administrators in the state who make themselves available for such assignments.

The Oxnard College president’s position was vacated in December by Steven Arvizu, who left for health reasons. Arvizu, the school’s fourth leader in its 26 years, was paid $139,000 annually.