Valley Star

Issue date: 5/18/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy of LACCD.edu Courtesy of LACCD.edu

Known as "Rocky," newly elected Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Darroch Young's nickname labels him a fighter and his reputation proves it.

Best known for his accomplishments during his tenure as President at Pierce College, Young, 57, scrapped a controversial plan to place a golf course on the 400-acre campus and organized the first campus master plan out of the nine L.A. community colleges. As interim senior vice chancellor, he was instrumental in getting additional funding for community college students and fought to change the way community college funds are allocated.

"I'm thrilled and relieved," said Young in a press release. "I really wanted this job because I believe that the Los Angeles community colleges are on the threshold of being great."

According to Young, his priorities will include reviewing the structure of the district office, creating vocational programs for high school students at community colleges and implementing a new strategic plan in order to boost low enrollment figures.

"I thought the choice was an excellent one," said Jeanne Rubin, executive assistant to the president of Valley College. "I find Mr. Young to be a completely unpretentious, extremely nice man. This may seem less than critical, but when managing a district of this size, your personal rapport with the students and staff is very important."

As president at Pierce in 1999, Young boosted dwindling enrollment by 51 percent, making Pierce one of the fastest-growing colleges in California. He did the same for Santa Monica College as vice president of planning and development, increasing its enrollment by 75 percent from 1986-1997.

"I'm astounded by the changes I've seen at Pierce over the last few years," said Pierce student, Amy Kenney. "I remember when my older brother went here, it was a dump. But Young really cleaned it up. He's a definite asset for LACCD."

Starting July 1, Young will be responsible for overseeing the 130,000 students and $450 million budget that make up the largest community college district in the nation.

Young became interim senior vice chancellor of the nine-college district in January 2004 when Peter Landsberger vacated the post to become the district's interim chancellor. During that time, Young was influential in changing the way community colleges allocated their funding and with Landsberger implemented the $2.2 billion bond project to improve and renovate all nine Los Angeles community college facilities.

"Rocky is one of the most highly qualified and gifted community college leaders in the country," said LACCD Board President Kelly Candaele in a press release following the election. "Our board has outlined an agenda of academic excellence, training the new workforce, fighting for student access and following through on our commitment to rebuild and expand our nine colleges. We expect Rocky to help us make those commitments a reality."

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