Saratoga News


Photograph by Robert Scheer New facilities director Joseph Abell	Photograph by George Sakkestad Interim officer Berdette Cofer	New dean Lee Weller Callaway

Administration changes in community college district

West Valley-Mission district appoints two new administrators, promotes another

Lee Weller Callaway has been promoted to dean of instruction at Mission College. She is responsible for class offerings and the instructional budget.

Previously, Callaway was the special assistant to Chancellor Rose Tseng, the coordinator of staff development for the West Valley-Mission Community College District and a faculty member in the Nutritional Sciences and Hospitality Management departments.

Before joining the district in 1970, Callaway was president of one of the first private-practice nutrition consulting services in the United States. She received a master's degree in nutrition and a Ph.D. in human nutrition from UC-Berkeley, and a bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Berdette H. Cofer is the interim chief business officer of the West Valley-Mission Community College District. He replaces Deanna Waltson, who accepted a new position at Ohlone College.

Cofer is vice chancellor emeritus of the Yosemite Community College District. He is president of BHC Associates Inc., an educational-management consulting firm in Modesto.

Joseph Ian Abell is the new director of facilities planning and operations for the district. The former director, Joan Reitz, retired.

Abell's past experience includes being the director of the Physical Plant at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, maintenance manager at San Jose Evergreen Community College District in San Jose and equipment maintenance manager at Santa Clara University. He received a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University.