Jeanne Wilson has been selected as the Vice President of Student Services at Las Positas College starting in July 2021.
Wilson is currently the Dean of Special Programs and Services at Chabot College. She has been on the staff of Chabot for over 20 years and was one of the three finalists for the position of Vice President Student Services at Las Positas College. Wilson participated in a public forum for the three finalists. After an introduction, she answered questions that had been submitted in advance by various organizations.
Wilson said has the qualifications for the position with her doctorate in Educational Leadership and her extensive experience at Chabot College working with student services and with minority students. She is credited with starting several services for minority students such as the Umoja Promise cohort and the Black Education Association.
During the forum, Wilson seemed to try to win over the Las Positas audience. At one point she said she planned to retire from Las Positas. Another time, in response to an unrelated question, Wilson mentioned she thought “You (Las Positas) have a beautiful website”.
Wilson said that a large turnover rate of administrators makes people think things are unsettled. Wilson turned her 20 years at Chabot to a plus by saying she would bring stability to the office.
Wilson spoke clearly, moving her hands a lot to emphasize a point.
Sometimes Wilson also did not directly answer the question asked, but discussed related issues. When asked for her vision for student government, she discussed how to get students interested in running for student government. On a question about working with unions, she discussed outreach, talking to high schools about Las Positas.
On a question about how to function with staff shortages, her answer was to add overtime pay. Later it appeared she thought more, saying that overtime could burn out the employees. She then stated that she would hire a great grant writer to win grants so more staff could be hired.
One question asked Wilson how to get the classified employees to feel that they are participating in running the college, implying that the classified employees want to make sure they are heard. Wilson’s solution is to put a classified employee on each committee at Las Positas.
Wilson was one of three final candidates and was selected for the position of Vice President of Student Services.
Alan Lewis is the photo editor of The Express. Follow him @AlanLew89343503.
