Erika A. Endrijonas has been appointed president of Los Angeles Valley College amid an effort to turn around the debt-ridden institution, which also has been threatened with the loss of accreditation. Endrijonas, who will assume her position in August, currently serves as executive vice president and the accreditation liaison officer of Oxnard College, where she has worked for the last five years. Her contract runs through June 30, 2017. The Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved Endrijonas’ appointment, along with new presidents for Los Angeles Southwest College and Los Angeles Harbor College. The candidates were chosen through a nationwide executive search conducted by the Education Leadership Search Group. “Each has a proven track record of exemplary leadership and service to the California community colleges, and a strong focus on student success and fiscal management,” said district Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez, in a statement. Endrijonas has worked at several other institutions for higher learning during a 22-year career, including the University of Southern California and Santa Barbara City College. She takes over for Alma Johnson-Hawkins, who became interim president last September following the retirement of A. Susan Carleo. L.A. Valley College has made deep cuts in recent years to its classes, faculty, tutors and athletic programs in order to reduce a deficit that stood at $5.5 million. It has a projected deficit of $2 million this year. Last year, the college also was hit with a warning it could lose accreditation, which many have linked as a direct result of the budget cuts.
