NORTH COAST, Calif. – The president and superintendent of Mendocino College is headed north.

Kathryn Lehner, who has led the college since 2005, has been appointed president and superintendent of College of the Redwoods in Eureka.

On Wednesday night the College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees voted to hire Lehner while, at the same time, the Mendocino College Board of Trustees voted to accept her letter of resignation, which is effective May 14.

Lehner said in a written statement that she was honored to be selected as College of the Redwood’s next president, noting she was aware of the stellar reputation of the college’s faculty and staff.

“Meeting the challenges surrounding the latest accreditation sanction will be a demanding task,” she said. “However, I am confident that working together we can accomplish our goal of bringing College of the Redwoods into full compliance with the accreditation standards. I am pleased to be able to apply my experience in both accreditation and finance to help College of the Redwoods address the current issues and I look forward to relocating to Eureka and becoming an active member of the local community.”

She said in a separate statement that she will cherish her time at Mendocino College.

Lehner said the Mendocino College Board of Trustees will work quickly to identify an interim superintendent/president who will serve for six to nine months while the selection process for her successor takes place.

The College of the Redwoods Board reported that it is working on a transition timeline for when Lehner will assume the new job.

Until that time, Utpal Goswami – who, along with Lehner, had been among the finalists for the job – will continue serving as interim president, a position he’s held since March 2011, the college reported.

“The board is confident that Kathy will provide strong leadership and direction for the College of the Redwoods District during a critical time in its history,” said College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees President Colleen Mullery. “Kathy’s successful tenure as president of a rural college for seven years gives her deep experience and a rich perspective that should prove invaluable as the college envisions its future during these rapidly changing times for higher education.”

Lehner came to Mendocino College in 2003 and served as its vice president of academic affairs for two years. She has been the president/superintendent of the college since 2005.

For nine years she has been involved with the North State Rural Community College Association, of which CR is also a member.

As the longest-sitting president of this northern California group, Lehner currently is serving as its chair. She also represents the northern colleges on the statewide Chief Executive Officers of California Community Colleges, the group representing all California community college presidents and chancellors.

Lehner has established a positive relationship with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). She successfully led Mendocino College through a comprehensive accreditation self-study.

She was called upon by the ACCJC in fall 2011 to fill in as a team leader in an emergency after the scheduled leader was unable to visit a college at the last minute.  She has served as a team leader for two other ACCJC college accreditation visits.

Lehner earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Kansas and a master of business administration (MBA) at the University of New Mexico.

Prior to coming to Mendocino College, Lehner worked for nine years at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, Colo.

At Pikes Peak she served variously as associate vice president for educational services for two years, dean of the division of business education and military programs for five years, assistant dean of the division of business education; and an accounting faculty member for two years.

Lehner has worked as certified public accountant from 1978 to the present and worked in the private sector as a certified public accountant for more than 10 years.