West Valley College President Dr. Marchelle Fox, 63, has announced plans to retire from her position, effective at the end of the semester, Dec. 31. She leaves Saratoga to return to her hometown of San Diego. Fox is the first female to lead the 12,500-student campus, and at eight years has the longest tenure.

"I'm retiring because it's time," Fox said. "I've served over 30 years in the community college system, and my home is in San Diego."

Fox, wearing a striking, turquoise blue-colored suit, said she is looking forward to spending her retirement with her family, her husband's family and especially her parents and grandchildren, who all reside in Southern California. Fox said she and her husband, who has already retired, plan to spend more time traveling, hiking and most of all relaxing. While her role as president, which includes responsibility for the whole college, has been rewarding, it has also consumed most of her leisure time, even weekends.

"It's a very serious obligation that I've tried really hard to uphold," Fox said. "I'll really miss it, but I'll always feel like I have a home here that I can visit."

Brenda Rogers, senior executive assistant to Fox, said her employer will be missed for her honesty and integrity.

"She has an amazing ability of looking into the future and planning ahead, while still remaining in the present," said Rogers, who has worked with Fox the past two years. "Not many people can do that. She loves to give back to the community."

Since her presidential role began at West Valley College in 1996, Fox helped lead the college through a successful accreditation process and fostered an educational and facilities master plan, in collaboration with staff and faculty, which will be used to guide much-needed renovations on the campus, once funding becomes available.

"The mechanical systems are old," Fox said. "They are not built to house the kind of teaching we want our students to have."

West Valley College, founded in 1964, was developed between 1964 and 1974, with the first building completed in 1968. Fox said technology-building renovations could be completed as early as 2007, advancing the campus to a whole new level.

Fox is also credited with helping to improve the digital media and Internet services program and distance education and has also served on many committees and groups within the community. The Santa Clara Valley YMCA honored Fox in its annual Tribute to Women, and Soroptimists International named her a "Woman of Distinction."

Fox said she hired more than 120 talented and enthusiastic faculty members during her time as president.

West Valley­Mission Community College District Chancellor Stan Arterberry said he met Fox before they worked together at the district on an economic-related statewide committee.

"I've always liked her insightfulness and her ability to be analytical about issues and problems confronting the organization, and to be able to assess what we should do," he said.

Vice President for Instruction Joe Samuels was a member of the committee that hired Fox in 1996. He said she has followed through—with flying colors—on everything from the accreditation process to working with shared governance.

"I will sorely miss [her] the day she leaves," he said.

Samuels said what made Fox unique is that she deeply cares that students receive the best education that can be delivered on a community-college level.

"I have enjoyed her warmth," said Divya Pereira, West Valley College student trustee. "She has such a passion for education. She has been such a good administrator, but at the same time students don't feel scared of her."

Fox grew up in San Diego, and started her career teaching elementary school in Berkeley. Before coming to West Valley College, she served as the interim vice president of student services at San Diego Miramar College. Prior to that she served as dean of instruction and dean of institutional advancement at San Diego City College.

The people she works with are the reason, Fox said, that she came to the college. She said the budget crisis in the spring semester of the last academic year stressed the relationship between the administration and faculty, although Fox and the staff have worked to minimize how those cutbacks have affected students.

"The budget isn't fine," Fox said. "There are a lot of issues this college is going to have to face over the next year."

When asked if the budget deficit has anything to do with the announcement of her retirement, Fox said, "There's never a right time for a president."

Fox added that she hopes to leave the college as prepared as possible for the fiscal challenges ahead. She said she trusts the talent and expertise of the people who compose West Valley College.

"Every student organization I've worked with on campus is interested in becoming better leaders," Fox said.

Fox retires without lifetime health benefits or retirement incentives. While her position ends in December, Fox will stay in Saratoga through the end of January to help train an interim president replacement.

"I'll still be here packing," Fox said jokingly. Samuels and Arterberry said they anticipate the new president officially coming on board as of July 1, 2004.