Dianne Van Hook, the Chancellor and CEO of the Santa Clarita Community College District, has been placed on administrative leave and David Andrus is expected to take her place Monday as acting chancellor until a permanent replacement is found.
The College of the Canyons District Board voted to place Van Hook on administrative leave in a 3-0 vote on Wednesday, but no reason was given for the decision.
Only three members of the five-member board were present for the vote. Sebastian Cazares was not present for the vote. Chuck Lyon resigned in June leaving one seat on the board vacant.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
The board met in closed session on Wednesday to discuss the vote to place Van Hook on administrative leave. Details of the closed session meeting were not disclosed.
Andrus is a past president of the COC Academic Senate and a political science professor at the college. There was not timetable set by the board in the search for a new chancellor.
Deputy Chancellor Diane Fiero, in an email sent to faculty and college staff sent Thursday, said the changes in leadership will spark many questions.
"In the meantime, we appreciate your commitment to serving students and preparing for the launch of the 2024-25 academic year next month. The hallmark of College of the Canyons has always been its focus on students and their success, and we expect that to continue as we move through this period of transition. On behalf of the district and the board of trustees, thank you for that dedication and commitment and for all your hard work on behalf of the students we are proud to serve," Fiero wrote.
Van Hook was the longest serving community college district CEO in California. When she was hired by COC in 1988, she was the youngest district CEO in the history of the state at 37.
Board of trustees President Edel Alonso said in a news release from the college it will continue to serve the students and put their needs first.
"That will continue to be our focus as we move through this period of transition," Alonso said in the release. "We launch a new academic year when the fall semester begins Aug. 19, and the college's faculty, classified staff, and administration are all working hard to create opportunities for our students to succeed."
A recent campus climate survey revealed some employees described how they were fearful of being retaliated against for speaking up about problems at the college.
Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Laurene Weste told The Signal newspaper in Santa Clarita that Van Hook is "probably the most successful chancellor of a community college" across the nation. The city collaborates with the college's performance arts center and provided $2.4 million in funding for its construction.
"The woman did a phenomenal job of doing things that were trailblazing," Weste said in an interview with The Signal. "She was dynamic, and that energy had such a great influence on people investing their time, dollars and commitment to help drive that to the very top."
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Most Popular
Comments / 0