Vanguard president to retire

S.J. Cahn

COSTA MESA -- Vanguard University President Wayne Kraiss announced

Friday he will retire at the end of the school year.

Kraiss has been the school’s president since 1975, when the

then-Southern California College had 629 students. Now, a four-year

university with several graduate programs, the school has 1,400 students.

“My wife, Barbara, and I have had an incredibly gratifying

experience,” Kraiss said. “We have been so pleased with our interaction

over the years with the high-caliber students at VU.”

Kraiss’ retirement comes after 39 years of working as a college

administrator. He began at SCC in 1974 as director of development. He

moved into the school’s presidency when his predecessor, Emil Balliet,

experienced health problems. After less than a year as acting president,

Kraiss was named the school’s sixth president.

While he was president, Kraiss served as a reserve officer and

chaplain for the Costa Mesa Police Department for 17 years.

Kraiss will continue as the commissioner of Christian Higher Education

for the school’s sponsoring denomination, the Assemblies of God. He also

will work on the school’s $42 million capital campaign.

A search committee has begun meeting but has not yet announced a

successor. The university’s board of trustees will receive a report on

the status of the search and interview a candidate at its Sept. 14

meeting.