Moorpark College President Dr. Eva Conrad will retire on July 2, 2008, after 34 years of service to California community colleges. The search for a new college president is underway through the Ventura County Community College District Human Resources office. A retirement party for Conrad is set for May 16th, at the Westlake Village Inn. Tickets are available by calling the MC Foundation at 805 378-1431.
Conrad was appointed President in July, 2002. She served as the Executive Vice President for five years prior. Her accomplishments at the college include: spearheading an administrative reorganization that reflects the student learning concept of combining students serves with academic disciplines and developing articulation arrangements with the new Cal State University, Channel Islands. She led the development of a massive strategic planning effort at Moorpark College that encompassed fiscal, physical, and educational master plans that project 15 years out.
Conrad began her career at San Bernardino Valley College in 1975 as a faculty member in psychology. She served in this role for 18 years before moving into educational administration. She received “Outstanding Professor of the Year (1990) and “Women who Make a Difference (1993) awards while at San Bernardino Valley College. She served as the Vice President of Instruction at San Bernardino Valley College for 3 years before coming to Moorpark.
For the past two years Conrad has been developing leaders at Moorpark College who will carry on at the in the future through a peer training group called the Leadership Roundtable. The Roundtable has graduated nearly 50 participants and received statewide recognition from the Association of California Community College Administrators this past spring. The program focuses on the underlying psychology and philosophy of leadership, and covers problem solving, communication, change and more.
“Our college is rich with leaders… formal ones with titles and informal ones who effectively lead from the back of the parade. It has been a pleasure to work with a cross section of our staff and faculty each year in this endeavor,” she says.
According to Maureen Rauchfuss, the college’s matriculation specialist, there should be statewide recognition for the Leadership Roundtable. “It was made clear early on that all were equal in the Roundtable and that allowed me to speak up and fully engage in the program,” she said.
In addition to a commitment to grow leaders from within, many say Conrad’s example of civility and humility have profoundly strengthened and blessed the culture of the college. ”I have always felt this warm, mentoring spirit from Dr. Conrad and hope I model this for my students, “says English Professor Dr. Tracy Tennenhouse. “She has had a truly positive impact in the way I view this profession. She consistently reminds me that it is all about that individual student, and that what we do, what we say, and how we care, matters.”
“Eva Conrad’s respect for rules that govern our institution and her willingness to work very hard to make sure that we follow those rules has been the best way of ensuring a quality education for our students,” says Academic Senate President Dr. Margaret Tennant.
"Dr. Conrad is well respected within the District and the California Community College System,” said VCCCD Chancellor James Meznek. “She is highly regarded as an outstanding educational leader and for her absolute commitment to the community college mission, which places students first. Her dedication, knowledge, hard work, and commitment to our District and its students will serve as the standard for all those who follow her in leadership positions.”
Conrad served in numerous state roles both as the Executive Vice President and College President, such as chairing the California Commission on Athletics, representing the region on the California Executive Board of Chief Instructional Officers, and serving on numerous accreditation teams. In 2002, she received the second highest honor bestowed by the Association of California Community College Administrators, the Leadership Award for Administrative Excellence. This award is given to a community college administrator whose commitment to the profession exemplifies creativity and innovation, volunteerism, commitment to the college and community, and service as a role model to others.
Locally, she serves on the CSU Northridge Enrollment Advisory Committee, and previously served on the United Way Board and the Thousand Oaks Rotary. She participated in the Ventura County Leadership Academy, completing the program in 1999. Conrad earned three degrees in psychology: a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Alabama, and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Arizona. She is also a graduate from Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management (1996).
|
