Andrea Leiderman (at center in photograph), Betsy Bechtel (right) and Hal Plotkin, who were elected in November to four-year terms on the Foothill-De Anza Community College Board of Trustees, were sworn in to office at a special board meeting at 4 p.m. Monday, December 15, in the district boardroom.
“Foothill-De Anza is fortunate to have three community leaders of such high caliber and unique qualifications joining the board,” said Chancellor Martha Kanter. “We look forward to the oversight and commitment that each trustee will bring to positioning the district for the future.”
All three have close ties to community colleges. Leiderman, who was first appointed to the board in February 2002 to fill a vacancy, is an adjunct professor of American government at Evergreen Valley College. Bechtel served for six years on the Foothill-De Anza Foundation Board of Directors, including two terms as president. Plotkin is himself a graduate of Foothill College.
“I believe there is no other institution in American life that meets the needs of all community members, at one time or another, as do our community college,” Leiderman said. “The community colleges—which are agile in developing and adapting programs to meet community needs—are the engines which will enable us to turn around the economy.”
According to Bechtel, she is looking forward to representing the entire community as the board addresses critical issues facing community colleges. "I was pleased to be an active member of the Foothill-De Anza Foundation board, and am honored to continue my work for the district as a trustee," she said.
Plotkin noted that these are "trying times" for community colleges. “My foremost goal is to preserve and extend our district’s reputation for excellence and innovation as we develop new ways to bring higher education opportunities within reach of all motivated learners regardless of their income levels or background,” he said.
Leiderman, Bechtel and Plotkin join Paul Fong and Edward A. “Sandy” Hay on the board of trustees. The two new members replace retired trustees Mary Mason and Judy Moss, who each served for 12 years on the Foothill-De Anza board.
For biographical information about the new trustees, see http://www.fhda.edu/about_us/board/.
|
