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West Hills College District down to three finalists as trustees continue chancellor search
School officials held interviews with candidates in February and decided on the finalists.
The three who made the cut include a current district administrator, Dr. Kristin Clark, newcomers Dr. Richard Storti, and Dr. Wei Zhou. School officials indicate that the next chancellor will begin work on July 1, 2021, taking over for the district’s current WHCCD chancellor Dr. Stuart Van Horn, who plans to retire in June.
Clark currently serves as the West Hills College Lemoore president.
The district search committee plans to hold public forums via Zoom with the candidates the week of March 15.
“The goal is to have a candidate selected and approved by the WHCCD Board of Trustees scheduled board meeting on April 20, 2021,” said Mark McKean, President of the West Hills Community College District Board of Trustees and one of the district’s longest trustees. “On behalf of my fellow trustees, I want to thank the committee and our district and college staff for volunteering their time and commitment to this next step in our District's critical history."
The candidates and a brief bio are below. Full biographies are available on the WHCCD website.
Dr. Kristin Clark
As West Hills College Lemoore’s top administrator since 2015, Clark led the College through reaffirmation with ACCJC for the next seven years. She also encouraged innovation in many areas, including student onboarding, veterans’ affairs, and Open Educational Resources. Recently this OER effort, led by faculty, was recognized by the State of California and awarded 2 million dollars to assist other colleges with this effort. Dr. Clark's long-term commitment to the community college system, coupled with her passion for equity, student success, learning, collaboration, and data-driven leadership style, are consistent qualities she has practiced throughout her career.
Clark has 26 years of administrative experience in higher education. Before her current position as President, she served as the Vice President of Student Services, Dean of Enrollment Services, and Director of Admissions, Records, & Enrollment Technology at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. She holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master's in Educational Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Dr. Richard Storti
Storti has a broad range of experience in academia and private industry with demonstrated expertise in the complexities of higher education and extensive knowledge of the community college system.
He currently serves as Deputy Chancellor at West Hills CCD. Storti has a passion for education and is dedicated to positively impacting students' and communities' lives through education. He has served on many civic committees and commissions and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Countywide Oversight Board of Fresno County, Board Member of the Kings County Oversight Board, and is an active member of the West Hills Community College Foundation.
Prior positions held with community colleges include Assistant Superintendent, Vice President of Business and Administrative Services at Pasadena City College, and Vice President of Administrative Services at Fullerton College. Outside of academia, he also has held senior-level leadership positions with reputable organizations in the private industry. Storti completed his doctoral studies in education at the University of Southern California, Master of Science in accounting at CSU, Fullerton, and Bachelor of Science in accounting at CSU, Long Beach. Additionally, he is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
Dr. Wei Zhou
Zhou says he is committed to open access to higher education to improve social and economic mobility, has a special passion for rural community colleges, and has helped develop programming and services for colleges serving rural communities with geographically dispersed populations. He is dedicated to college access, success, equity, social justice, employee and organizational development, and community engagement and has fostered an equity-minded, global vision in a learning-centered, data-informed, broad-based participatory and consultative, and integrated instructional, student, technology, and administrative support services environment.
Zhou has extensive California community college administrative experience in multi-college districts serving large geographical areas, including positions as Dean of Math, Science and Engineering at Evergreen Valley College, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Copper Mountain College, Vice President of Instruction, and Interim President at Cuyamaca College, and President of Crafton Hills College.
He is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, Center for Community College Leadership and Research Wheelhouse Fellow and California Community College Inaugural CEO Leadership Academy graduate and completed his doctoral studies from the University of Texas at Austin in education.
