Linda Salter

New chancellor talks about her move and the challenges

By Jason Baker

The decision to take over as West Valley-Mission Community College District chancellor was a hard one for Linda Salter to make, but it's one she says is definitely comfortable. "I've been at Skyline a long time and it's become part of me," she said, "but I think this is a fit."

Salter, president of Skyline College in the San Mateo County Community College District for 13 years, was selected by trustees June 10 to become the new chancellor of the district. She will oversee both West Valley College in Saratoga and Mission College in Santa Clara.

"I'm excited," she said. "This is a wonderful opportunity."

Salter said she has been impressed by the personnel from WVC-MCC with whom she has been in contact. She looks forward to bringing a commitment of excellence to the campus and the community and facilitating the needs of Silicon Valley students and employers.

One challenge facing Salter will be developing a potential bond issue for the district to finance expansion and renovation on both campuses. A new library and child care center are slated for Mission, which opened its multimillion-dollar technology center this spring.

"There is an acknowledged need for facilities upgrades on both campuses," she said. "One attraction of a community college to an area is the college's willingness to provide programs that respond to the needs of local industry, and in partnership with the community, its willingness to provide an appropriately trained work force. What better location for this than right in the heart of Silicon Valley?"

Salter's tentative start date is Aug. 1, pending contract negotiations. She will make between $129,861 and $146,162.

The chancellor job has been open since June 1998, when Rose Teng left the position with four years remaining on her contract. She now serves as chancellor of the University of Hawaii-Hilo.

Also on June 10, trustees selected Christopher O'Hearn, vice president for instruction at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa for the past seven years, to serve as president of Mission College. He replaces Michael Rao, who last year accepted a chancellorship in Montana.

Established 35 years ago, WV-MCCD has 20,000 students, employs about 3,000 people and has an annual budget of $84 million. The chancellor and president were selected after a nationwide search and extensive interviews conducted by committees with district-wide representation.

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