White: Woodland Community College president prepares for retirement

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At its Dec. 20 closed session meeting, the Yuba Community College Board of Trustees accepted my retirement letter, effective June 30, 2019.

Many of you know that my wife, Ruth, retired as an elementary school principal five years ago when we left Fresno County in 2014 to move to Woodland.

We have both had long and fulfilling professional careers and Ruth has patiently waited on the “sidelines” for me to join her in retirement.

I have been in the “education business” for about 40 years and my 62nd birthday is on the horizon. It is time for me to invest more time with my life partner and step away from you as WCC president.

Ruth and I plan to remain involved in the Woodland community, as we are now. We look forward to local and long distance travel, volunteer work, managing a somewhat “high-maintenance” rescue dog at home, and spending quality time with family.

Our two daughters remain in the Sacramento region and are the joys of our lives. Many of you have met my oldest, Lauren, a professional photographer who has donated her services at several WCC events. Hayley is a proud WCC graduate and is now completing her bachelor’s degree at William Jessup University.

I wish that I could have an individual conversation with all of you who have made my final professional assignment such a pleasure. Please accept my heartfelt ‘thank you” for allowing me to be a part of the great work behind our college.

We developed the college’s first comprehensive Educational Master Plan, partnered with Native American leadership to host California’s only Tribal College initiative, realigned our Lake County Campus from Yuba College to WCC, launched Lake County’s Konocti Middle College High School, redesigned our College governance structures, enhanced Colusa County Campus services and programs, and much more.

I also look forward to our upcoming semester together and commit to assisting in the completion of spring 2019 work ahead of us.

We have accreditation work to complete, an Educational Master Plan to update, organizational structures to redesign using the Guided Pathway framework, a health care program initiative to refine, a fall 2019 Williams Early College High School to launch, and the like.

Again, words cannot express my gratitude for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to past and future work in some small way. Have a well-deserved restful winter break.

Dr. Michael A. White is president of Woodland Community College in Woodland, Calif.