Erika Endrijonas to Lead Pasadena City College

Los Angeles Valley College President Erika Endrijonas has been selected to lead Pasadena City College by the school’s board of trustees. Endrijonas will take over as president and superintendent of the multi-campus community college district in January, pending contract negotiations. She will succeed Rajen Vurdien, who is retiring. “I was ready to move to a superintendent position where I will have the opportunity to work directly with the board of trustees,” Endrijonas told the Business Journal. “I’m excited by all the great things that are happening at PCC and look forward to contributing to that energy.” Endrijonas took over as president of L.A. Valley College in Sherman Oaks in 2014 and was tasked with turning around the then debt-ridden institution, which was also in danger of losing its accreditation. Endrijonas said she succeeded in addressing the issues during her tenure. “We were deemed 100 percent compliant with accreditation requirements,” she said. “Financially, each of last four years we were in the black, and because of that, the remainder of the of five-year debt forgiven. The college is now completely debt free.” Before coming to LAVC, Endrijonas was executive vice president of Oxnard College. She began her career in higher education at the USC as an academic advisor in 1992. She then went on to several schools before spending nine years at Santa Barbara City College, where she was dean of educational programs. Endrijonas also serves on the Valley Industry and Commerce Association board and chairs its Education Committee.