College announces new board chairman

The board of trustees of the Laguna College of Art & Design has elected Jim McQueen as the new board chairman for the coming year. McQueen served as vice chairman during the prior year and was the unanimous choice to assume the leadership role for 2008-09. The board is composed of corporate officers, alumni, artists and community leaders whose roles include volunteer and fiduciary commitment to further the mission of the college, serving as ambassadors in the community, and applying their unique leadership capabilities on behalf of the institution.

The other officers are: Stevan Gromet, vice chairman; Nancy Milby, treasurer; and Lisa Dallendorfer, secretary.

“Jim brings a knowledge of the community and a love of education and Laguna Beach. Like his predecessor Mary Ferguson, he likes to get things done and see progress. For this reason especially it will be a pleasure to work with him,” said college president Dennis Power.

McQueen was born in Milwaukee, Wis., but moved to Southern California, along with his parents and siblings, at the age of 6. He attended USC on a debate scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1975. After graduation, Jim worked for Hughes Aircraft and Xerox Corporation, the latter in marketing and sales.

He returned to USC, graduating with a juris doctorate in 1984. After a year clerking for the Honorable Margaret Morris on the California Court of Appeals, he joined the Costa Mesa firm of Drummy Garrett King & Harrison LLP. He then joined the San Francisco-based Graham & James LLP, where he was a partner for eight years.

In 1999, he started his own law practice, McQueen & Ashman LLP, in Irvine. He practices business litigation, handling a wide variety of disputes in venues as diverse as the Hague in the Netherlands, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., and Orange County Superior Court.

He moved to Laguna Beach in 1995. In addition to his interest in the college, he is a commissioner for OC Human Relations, and served many years on the board of trustees of the Laguna Art Museum and, before that, the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach. His favorite pursuits, besides practicing law and spending time with his wife, Cathy, are reading, writing and traveling.

“I look forward with great anticipation to working with President Dennis Power, the outstanding faculty and the talented student body to enhance the college and its treasured relationship with the community at large,” said McQueen. “LCAD has left an indelible imprint on thousands of practicing artists, and with the continued integration of art and technology, it may be that its greatest educational influence is presently being achieved. This is an exciting time to be involved with Laguna College of Art & Design.”

— Cindy Frazier