After nearly two decades of service at Los Angeles Valley College, President Tyree Wieder has announced that she will retire June 30 of next year. “During the past 18 years I have had an extraordinary time working at Valley College and have taken pleasure in seeing the positive changes that have taken place for the benefit of our students, faculty and staff,” Wieder said in a letter to the college’s faculty and staff. “However, I have decided that it is time for me to move on and for someone else to take the reins of this outstanding institution.” Wieder said that she hopes by giving notice early on, the college board of trustees will be able to have her successor in place by July. Los Angeles Community College District Deputy Chancellor Adriana Barrera said that Wieder’s departure would leave a void. “It’s going to be a great loss, not only to Valley College but the Los Angeles Community College District,” said Barrera. “Dr. Wieder has played a leadership role in almost every aspect of the district. She’s served as co-chair of our District Budget Committee. She’s served on our Bond Steering Committee. She’s been instrumental in helping us in developing policies and procedures with regards to our bond program. And, at the college level, she has been responsible for the transformation for Valley College and seeing that it’s very much attuned to the community the students as well as the businesses that it serves.” According to her statement, Wieder’s last academic year at Valley College will be a busy one. “During the next few months, I will be supporting the efforts of the Education/Strategic Master Plan Committee as they work with department chairs to develop a revised plan of action for modernization and expansion of our curriculum that will provide the framework for college facilities,” she said. “I will also work to ensure that the planning related to the summer renovations for Humanities, Math-Science, Engineering, Theater and the Planetarium is carefully and thoroughly crafted, so that the moves will go as smoothly as possible, and I will be working with the URS team to ensure that this summer the renovations will be completed in time for the opening of the fall semester.” Wieder added that she would work with the Student Success Initiative to implement a plan to improve basic skills offerings and attempt to resolve the school’s budgetary issues. “Valley College is a great place to work and I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to serve as your president,” Wieder said.
