Scc Head In Line For California Post Williams Says He Applied To Be Nearer Family

Thu., March 5, 1998

Grayden Jones Staff writer

James Williams, president of Spokane Community College, is a finalist for a community college presidency in Bakersfield, Calif.

Williams said Wednesday that he applied to Bakersfield College because he and his wife want to be closer to family members who live in the area.

“I’m not flying my resume all over the country looking for a job,” said Williams, who came to Spokane in 1995. “If it doesn’t happen, I would be perfectly happy to continue as president at SCC.”

If Williams gets the job, he would become the last of the three top executives of the Community Colleges of Spokane to leave this year.

In January, Spokane Falls Community College president Vern Loland took a job in San Antonio, Texas. CCS chief executive officer Terrance Brown submitted his resignation in November, effective in June.

Williams said he will fly to Bakersfield March 18 to meet with Chancellor James Young and the board of trustees of the Kern Community College District, which controls Bakersfield and two other community colleges. A decision by trustees is expected March 19.

Bakersfield is the largest of the Kern District colleges, with 12,400 students, 713 full- and part-time faculty and a stadium that seats 18,000 spectators. SCC has 405 full- and part-time faculty and 7,000 students.

Williams earns $98,900 at SCC. Bakersfield’s president can earn up to $104,600.

Williams, who has degrees from two California universities, is one of four finalists for the Bakersfield job. Others include Robert Allison, the interim president of Bakersfield.

Allison filled a void last year when former President Richard Wright resigned and returned to the Bakersfield faculty.

, DataTimes

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