Chancellor Martha J. Kanter on May 4 announced that Foothill College Vice President for Technology and Instruction, Career and Workforce Education Penny Patz has been chosen to serve as interim president of the college, pending approval by the board of trustees on May 15. She will begin her new position July 1.
"We are delighted to have someone of Penny's caliber, experience and institutional knowledge fill the role of interim president during this important time of growth and innovation at Foothill and the district," said Kanter. "Her dedication to the education of community college students has been clear throughout her career, and I know she will be outstanding in her new role." Patz will fill the vacancy that will result from the retirement in June of longtime Foothill College President Bernadine Chuck Fong.
"Foothill enjoys an excellent reputation because of the myriad innovative programs and services we offer our students and community," Patz said. "As interim president, I will advocate for continuing our entrepreneurial spirit, our reputation for transfer preparation and basic skills, and initiatives such as learning communities, deep learning, the new math curriculum and beyond, including those related to career preparation." She cited some of her goals as promoting the college's established culture and core values, maintaining open communication and honoring participatory governance processes.
Patz has served in her current role since 1994, overseeing major projects including the installation of fiber optics and wiring throughout the Foothill campus and the current implementation of wireless accessibility. She has led the design project for multimedia classrooms and served in 1996 as co-author of Foothill-De Anza's strategic technology plan. She has played a key role in the development and evolution of online education at Foothill, which is nationally known as a leader in the field of distance learning. Patz was named "Administrator of the Year" by the Foothill Classified Senate for the 1999-2000 academic year and received the Exemplary Achievement Award in 2003. In 2000, she served as acting president of the college during Fong's sabbatical.
Prior to her vice presidency, Patz served for three years as Foothill's dean of administrative services and two years as dean of summer, weekend and evening programs. Prior to working at Foothill, she served in various positions at Bakersfield College, including as a faculty member and department chair in the Business Division.
Patz holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, Calif., a master’s degree in business education from Utah State University and a bachelor’s degree in business education from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
A nationwide search for the permanent president of Foothill College is slated to begin in the fall.
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