Darroch Young Is Named President of Pierce

A popular Santa Monica College administrator known for his fund-raising and management acumen was selected Wednesday to be the new president of Pierce College.

Darroch “Rocky” Young, vice president of planning and development at Santa Monica College, was credited with dramatically increasing that institution’s enrollment and successfully forging partnerships with neighboring residents and private businesses.

When Young begins his new job in June, he will earn an annual salary of $117,000, making him the highest paid college president in the Los Angeles Community College District.

“I really wanted to captain my own ship and looked for a place I could have some passion about,” said Young, 51, of Newbury Park. “Pierce seemed to fit the bill for me, but it is out of my belief that [the district] has made a fundamental commitment to decentralize authority and give college presidents the chance to do the kind of things I want to do.”

Of three finalists interviewed by the board Wednesday, Young had the best “track record of innovation, being a visionary and just getting things done,” said Elizabeth Garfield, president of the district’s board of trustees.

Critics accused Pierce College’s last president, E. Bing Inocencio, of ignoring the concerns of the community. Garfield singled out Young for his ability to foster relationships with residents near Santa Monica College.

Inocencio’s contract was not renewed after he announced a controversial plan to turn the Pierce College farm into a golf course.

Once the flagship of the district, Pierce became a symbol of the district’s problems as enrollment plummeted and conflicts between administrators and teachers escalated.

Young is seen by both faculty members and administrators as someone who can turn the college around.

“He has lots of demonstrated leadership, and he certainly can be a strong voice in the community,” said Academic Senate President Helen Krahn.

Garfield said Young’s decision to accept the job also reflects well on the college district, which recently agreed to give individual campuses more autonomy.

“Honestly, I don’t think these candidates would have applied a year ago,” Garfield said--an opinion confirmed by Young.

Young said he will not revisit the contentious issue over the future of the farm. The board is currently considering three proposals to convert the farm to a golf course.

Young said he will focus on facilities improvements, enrollment and partnerships with private industry.

“I’ve been known as a fairly good strategist for generating growth and maximizing enrollment,” he said.

To increase enrollment at Santa Monica College, Young spearheaded the development of a year-round calendar--believed to be the only community college in California to do so.

Young also helped Santa Monica College become a favorite destination for foreign students.

Young said he would like to create partnerships with San Fernando Valley high schools, colleges and businesses--perhaps in the biotech field--as he did at Santa Monica College.

“At Santa Monica we had partnerships with Digital Domain [the company that provided special effects for the movie ‘Titanic’] . . . Sony and Warner Bros.,” he said. “We’ll have to figure out what partnerships will work with Pierce College.”

Santa Monica College President Piedad Robinson called Young a “an incredibly creative individual” and a “team player” capable of restoring Pierce College’s marred reputation for academic excellence.

In 1995, Young and Robinson were competitors for her current job, and Robinson’s selection initially caused an uproar among Young’s supporters.

“Contrary to what everybody else thought, we met and respected and admired each other,” said Robinson. “We understood that we both brought characteristics and skills that the other didn’t have.”

At Pierce, Young’s appointment was greeted with relief and anticipation.

“I think he brings a lot to the campus,” said Martin Mota, president of the college’s shared governance committee. “He brings the potential of revenue, new ideas and a lot of contacts with private industry and politicians.”

Krahn said she looked forward to having a head administrator who would look at Pierce’s challenges with “fresh eyes.”