Murillo accepts SoCal college presidency

Kindred Murillo, who has been president of Lake Tahoe Community College since 2011, is moving on to Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista.

Kindred Murillo

Murillo gave her notice to the local board nearly a year ago, with the intent to leave in February 2017. Since that time she has been looking at various presidency and chancellor positions.

Moving to Southern California gets her closer to family.

She will be president of a college that has about 20,000 students a semester, and offers more than 320 associate degree and certificate options. This is a student population that is about five times larger than LTCC.

“I am looking forward to working with the students, faculty, staff, leadership and governing board at Southwestern College. They are a leader in the state in the area of diversity and equity, two places where I believe community colleges can have the most impact on the State of California’s and the nation’s socioeconomic success,” Murillo told Lake Tahoe News.

A final vote by the SCC board is scheduled for Dec. 14; the contract is expected to be confirmed then as well.

She will be leaving LTCC at the end of January.

At the Dec. 6 board meeting, through tears she said, “I just love you guys. It’s been the best 5 1/2 years of my life — other thank raising my children.”

She received a standing ovation from the nearly packed room.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report