Interim Chief for College District Picked

The vice chancellor for human resources has been named interim chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District.

Bill Studt, 58, a former superintendent of the Oxnard Union High School District, will lead the three-campus district for the next year while trustees continue to search for a permanent chancellor.

Studt will replace James Walker, the former Moorpark College president who became interim chancellor last year when Philip Westin was placed on administrative leave. Walker plans to retire this month.

Westin quit under fire last fall, and trustees have been searching for a replacement ever since. Their search came up short last month when the two finalists for the job were rejected.

“It’s a great district, the instructional program and what we do for students,” said Studt, who was hired as the district’s human resources director in May 2002. “Each day I find out what goes on here and I’m just amazed. This county is lucky to have it and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Board President Art Hernandez said trustees would take a more aggressive approach to recruiting a permanent chancellor this time around and would strive to attract more applicants. Studt would be welcome to apply for the position if he chose, Hernandez said.

In the meantime, Hernandez said, Studt would provide a steady hand during the state budget crisis, which has forced the district to negotiate salary rollbacks and other cost-saving measures to avoid deep layoffs.

“He has strong leadership skills,” said Hernandez, who served on the Oxnard school board when Studt worked there. “Some might say a college district is different from K-12, but leadership is leadership, decision-making is decision-making and process is process. He’s been able to prove he can do it, not only to me but with the other board members.”

The five trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Studt, who served as the board’s representative during recent budget negotiations with the district’s labor unions.

“He conducted himself in a professional manner and arrived at difficult decisions with professionalism,” trustee Mary Anne Rooney said. “I feel confident in his strong leadership abilities.”

Studt will earn about the same annual salary as Walker, which was $186,000. Studt worked as a consultant on school facilities from 2001 to 2002 and served as Oxnard superintendent for nine years and personnel director for six years.