Glendale CC removes interim tag from vice president

After a nation-wide search, Glendale Community College selected Lorelei "Lore" Konopka as vice president of academic affairs.

Konopka has been serving as the interim VPAA since September 2022. Prior to that she was the Senior Associate Vice President of GCC North and Institutional Effectiveness.

She's held various roles at GCC including interim dean of academic affairs for projects and planning and accreditation liaison officer for the higher learning commission. She originally joined GCC as an adjunct faculty member.

“Lore is well suited to lead GCC’s academic division as we continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our workforce and prepare students for success at transfer universities,” Glendale Community College president Dr. Tiffany Hernandez stated in a press release.

Prior to moving to Arizona and joining GCC, Konopka was a psychology faculty member and department chair at Triton Community College in River Grove, Illinois.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to explore new possibilities and opportunities in the way we serve our students and community,” Konopka stated in a press release. “This is an exciting and challenging time for higher education especially as we look at the impact of technology and the needs of our students.”

GCC provides 41 associate degrees, 61 certificate programs, and a range of non-degree offerings. Founded in 1965 to serve the northwestern part of the Valley, the college is part of the Maricopa County Community Colleges District, has two campuses and enrolls approximately 26,000 students annually.