Van Nuys : Former Valley College Teacher Returns as VP

Valley College’s new vice president for academic affairs is no stranger to the campus.

Anita Susan Carleo spent 13 years starting in 1976 in Valley College’s Family and Consumer Studies Department--first as an instructor and later as the department chairwoman, before she became assistant dean of academic affairs at Los Angeles Harbor College in 1989.

“I am looking forward to returning to Valley College and renewing relationships with friends and colleagues whom I worked with in the past,” said Carleo, who starts Friday at the campus. “I look forward to meeting the challenges that are inherent in bringing Valley College into the 21st century.”

Most recently, Carleo has served as dean of academic affairs at New York’s Schenectady County Community College, where she was responsible for planning, organizing and monitoring the school’s instructional program. She oversaw the formation of a five-year educational technology blueprint for the college.

A committee of five--three instructors, one support staff member and a member of the affirmative action office--winnowed a pool of 32 applicants for the vice president position down to four finalists, who were interviewed by Valley College President Tyree Wieder.

Wieder said Carleo stood out for the depth and quality of her academic affairs work.

“The vice president of academic affairs serves as the educational leader working with faculty to facilitate an instructional program that will meet the needs of our students,” she said. “The VP is responsible for our entire instructional program--all the courses we offer and when we offer them.”

Since Carleo needed to give Schenectady County Community College two months’ notice before leaving, Wieder added, “We will welcome her with open arms. Then we’ll put her to work.”