Las Positas College Comprehensive Evaluation Visit Team Roster
Monday, October 19, 2009 to Thursday, October 22, 2009
Dr. Douglas Houston (Chair)
Superintendent/President
Lassen College
P. O. Box 3000
Susanville CA 96130
Doug has provided 30 years of professional service in academic and leadership roles including as: a full-time and a part-time community college instructor, an adjunct university instructor, a West Point Physics Professor, a commander of several Army units, a community college administrator, a Boy Scout Scoutmaster, and in various leadership roles in his church and community.
The son and grandson of Army officers, Doug grew up in various countries including Germany, Thailand and of course in many states in the USA. An Eagle Scout, he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Physics from the University of Florida where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate and was recognized with the George Catlett Marshal Leadership Award. Doug earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the Pepperdine University.
Prior to being “called” to Lassen College, he served in numerous administrative positions at Butte College in Oroville California and at Barstow College in Southern California. While at Butte College, he was recognized with an Award for Excellence from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development for work in support of faculty development and classroom-based research. Doug is a community college “junkie” and a proponent of servant leadership; he considers his service, whether in the military or now in higher education, to be a sacred trust.
Doug’s home is with his wife Kathryn, son Samuel (an 18-year-old freshman at U.C. Davis) and daughter Anna Marie (a 17-year-old junior at Paradise H.S.) on a small horse ranch on the buttes just south of Paradise, California ... along with some two dozen pets including horses, dogs, cats, chickens and various exotic and wild birds and somewhat-tame squirrels ... Kathy is a veterinarian! He enjoys camping, fishing, horseback riding and furniture building; but mostly he relishes the fellowship of family and friends.
Ms. Julie Johnston (Assistant)
Assistant to the President/Board
Lassen College
P. O. Box 3000
Susanville CA 96130
Julie is relatively new to the education field having come to Lassen College in July 2008. Her background includes 23 years in the legal field working with attorneys and private investigators. Accomplishments include helping her former boss of 8 ½ years campaign for Superior Court Judge and unseat the incumbent (while costing her a job). Julie worked a short time in State service for the Department of Corrections in Susanville prior to coming to Lassen College. She is also a licensed California Realtor working with Gold Run Realty in Susanville.
In the midst of changing occupations several years ago, Julie returned to school and completed her AA degree in Business Administration.
Having grown up in Susanville and attended local schools, Julie has made her home in Susanville for 42 years. Julie has two children, daughter Shelby, 21, a senior at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, and son Trevor, 19, a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her hobbies include never-ending remodeling of her home and rental properties, gardening, and wine making. Julie’s ultimate passion would be to attend a vintner’s program and work at a winery. Julie enjoys traveling and spending her free time with family and friends. She is joined at home by the family pets - three dogs (Chloe, Sienna and Bella), two cats (Sasha and Tuffie), and her son’s box turtle Speedy.
Ms. Sally Donovan
Coordinator, Institutional Research
Feather River College
570 Golden Eagle Avenue
Quincy CA 95971
I am currently an associate faculty member at Feather River College teaching history and art appreciation through our Incarcerated Student Program. I have a masters degree in History and a masters in Library and Information Science. Recently I completed four years as the Institutional Researcher for the college. In my previous position with the University of Southern Mississippi, I was a Financial Aid/Veteran's Administration Specialist for five years.
I'm looking forward to the opportunity to visit Las Positas College.
Ms. Gloria Harrison
President
Crafton Hills College
11711 Sand Canyon Road
Yucaipa CA 92399
Gloria Macias Harrison became President of Crafton Hills College on July 1, 2000. Before this assignment, she served as Vice President of Instruction at Crafton Hills College for six years. She also served as Dean of Humanities at San Bernardino Valley College for three years. She has over 20 years of teaching experience./p>
Ms. Harrison was a governor’s appointee to the California Commission on the Status of Women and served on the California Council for the Humanities and numerous state committees on education. Locally she is the chair of The Community Foundation, a member of Kiwanis, the San Bernardino Symphony Association, on the Board of Directors for St. Bernardine Hospital, and the Crafton Hills College Foundation. Also, she belongs to many professional organizations. She is the recipient of numerous awards.
Ms. Harrison received an Associate of Arts degree from San Bernardino Valley College, a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in Spanish Literature from the University of California, Riverside.
Dr. Alfred Hochstaedter
Faculty Member
Monterey Peninsula College
980 Fremont Street
Monterey CA 93940
Alfred (Fred) Hochstaedter teaches Geology and Oceanography at Monterey Peninsula College, where he is also the Academic Senate President and the SLO Coordinator. During the last year, Fred served as the Accreditation Steering Committee co-chair for MPC. Fred went to college at Humboldt State University and did his graduate work at the University of California, Santa Cruz. For fun, Fred enjoys backcountry skiing in the Sierra Nevada.
Ms. Deborah Ludford
District Director of Information Services
North Orange County CCD
1830 W Romneya Drive
Anaheim CA 92801
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Deborah worked in the computer industry for Vons Grocery Company, Price Waterhouse and Atlantic Richfield Company for 8 years. During this time she earned a Masters of Science Degree in Management Science from the University of Southern California. She began her Community College career as an Adjunct Instructor for Cerritos College while working at Vons. Hired by Glendale Community College in the late 1980's, Deborah held positions as Associate Professor, Academic Senate President, Division Chair, Business and Computer Science, Associate Dean, Instructional and Administrative Systems Development and Dean, Information and Technology Services.
Moving to Orange County, Deborah joined Fullerton College as Dean, Business and Computer Information Systems in 2003 and moved to the position of District Director, Information Services in 2005.
Deborah lives with her husband, and three teenage children live in Yorba Linda and enjoys their horses, water sports at their vacation home in Lake Arrowhead and USC Athletic events.
Dr. Elizabeth Miller
Associate Superintendent/VP, Admin Services
Allan Hancock College
800 South College Drive
Santa Maria CA 93454-6399
Dr. Miller has been with the district since 1991. She served as the Vice President, Business Services, from 1991 to 1998, as the Vice President, Administrative Services, from 1998 to 2004, and as the Associate Superintendent/Vice President, Administrative Services, from 2004 to the present. Prior to Allan Hancock College, she was the Business Manager for El Camino Community College District in Torrance, California, from 1986 to 1991. Miller holds a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in educational policy, planning and administration, specializing in finance and school business management. She earned both a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in business administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Dr. Terri Long
Acting Associate Dean of Instructional Services
Mt. San Antonio College
1100 North Grand Avenue
Walnut CA 91789
I was hired as a full-time professor in the Earth Science and Astronomy Department at Mt. San Antonio College in 1989. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, my Master’s degree in Geology, and my doctorate degree in Education all from the University of Southern California. During my tenure as a full-time faculty member I served as Department Chair (5 years), Academic Senate President (2 years) and Faculty Association President (6 years). I am currently serving as the Interim Dean of Instructional Services. I am the co-chair of the Basic Skills Coordinating Committee, the co-chair of our Standard III Accreditation Team, and the co-chair of the Educational Design (curriculum) committee.
Dr. Jerry Rudmann
Professor Emeritus
Irvine Valley College
5500 Irvine Center Dr.
Irvine CA 92618
Dr. Jerry Rudmann teaches psychology at Irvine Valley College where he also serves as SLO co-coordinator, and co-chair for IVC's accreditation team (visit in 2010). Beside teaching, Jerry once served as IVC's matriculation coordinator for seven years, and was supervisor of institutional research at Coastline Community College from 2000 to 2007. He is also executive director for Psi Beta, the national honor society in psychology for community and junior colleges (Las Positas College has a Psi Beta chapter!). Jerry has served on two visiting teams before being on this team visit to Las Positas College. He's really looking forward to the visit.
Mr. Steven Schultz
Vice President Student Services
Porterville College
100 East College Avenue
Porterville CA 93257
Highlights Regarding Work/Education History
- I was born and raised in Terra Bella, a small farming community south of Porterville.
- After graduating from the local high school, I attended and received my Associate in Arts degree from Porterville College.
- My 3 brothers and my father all attended Porterville College.
- My dad played on Porterville College’s first football and baseball teams in 1928-29.
- My oldest son graduated from Porterville College and played on the baseball team like his grandpa did.
- As noted in the above bullets, Porterville College has been my life.
- Prior to being hired at Porterville College, I served as an academic advisor at California State University, Fresno, for seven years.
- I was hired as Porterville College’s first full-time EOPS counselor in 1989.
- I was “demoted” from the faculty ranks to become the Dean of Students in 1995. During that time, I also served as the Athletic Director for one year.
- I was again “demoted” to the Vice President of Learning position in 2002. This was a single VP position in which I served as both the CSSO and CIO. It was during this time that I lost almost all of my hair and what I had left turned gray.
- Luckily, the budget situation changed two years ago (2007) when our campus was able to split the VP position back in two as it had been, and I then continued as the VP of Student Services.
Non-Academic Highlights
- I have a service-connected disability from my time in the Army that has rendered me almost deaf (without my hearing aids), so please be patient with me as I listen and talk with you.
- I am an “Andy Griffith Show” connoisseur and know most of the commentary in the black and white episodes by memory. My two sons are Opie and my wife is Aunt Bee.
- I have a special needs boy (Fragile X – autistic) and a passion for serving the disabled.
- My “other job” is in farming – my wife and I farm about 10 acres of quince.
Dr. Ray Somera
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Guam Community College
P. O. Box 23069 GMF
Barrigada GUAM 96921
Dr. Somera is vice president for academic affairs at Guam Community College. Prior to assuming his current position, he was the college’s “assessment champion” who directed and managed the comprehensive assessment initiative begun in 2001. As assessment director, he presided over the weekly meetings of the College Committee on Assessment, where assessment plans and reports were regularly critiqued for improvements. As associate dean, he trained various campus constituents on assessment models and processes, and oversaw the early implementation of TracDat, the college’s assessment data management software in fall 2004. Drawing from the rich GCC assessment experience, he has given several presentations in various national conferences. From 2002-2004, he was also the online facilitator for Practical Assessment Community of Practice (an erstwhile project of the now-defunct AAHE), which allowed assessment practitioners across the country to engage in chats, resource-sharing, and meaningful dialogue. He holds masteral and doctoral degrees in sociocultural anthropology from Michigan State University.
