WVMCCD Board of Trustees Appoints New Chancellor

Patrick Schmitt, president of Pierce College Puyallup in Washington, has been selected by the West Valley-Mission Community College District Board of Trustees as the district’s new chancellor. Schmitt will begin July 1.

Schmitt, college president since 2010, brings with him 29 years of experience in higher education, including 16 as a fulltime faculty member. In visiting both West Valley College and Mission College, Schmitt said he was impressed with the tremendous amount of energy he sensed and the opportunity to further emphasize the district’s role in Silicon Valley. Schmitt pointed to the new solar panels at both campuses as evidence of the district’s forward-thinking approach.

“I take those kinds of things as very symbolic,” Schmitt said. “It signifies that people in the district are thinking differently and that really appealed to me.”

Schmitt describes the district as “emergent,” in that WVMCCD’s identity is shifting as changes happen both within California and the Silicon Valley.

“I see my role in the district as helping develop and clarify that identity so that we can better serve both the students and the community through what we do,” Schmitt said. “This may sound hokey, but it’s true – in some ways, this is the job I’ve been aiming at all my life. I couldn’t think of a better job.”

Prior to his time at Pierce College Puyallup, Schmitt was campus executive officer and dean for four years at University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. He also worked for six years at South Suburban College in South Holland, Ill. as associate dean, dean and associate vice president of instruction. Prior to that, he was a fulltime faculty member in theater arts at Pasco-Hernando Community College in Brooksville, Florida and at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Schmitt earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in theatre and drama.

Schmitt takes over for Chancellor John Hendrickson, who is retiring at the end of June. Hendrickson describes his time with the district as “the most rewarding four years of my career.”

“It’s been a remarkable journey to work with our two colleges and to be able to participate in the turnaround of very rough financial difficulties to be in a position to where we’re looking toward the future with the idea of collaboration and the expectation of continuing to improve our services to our students,” said Hendrickson, who is widely credited with putting the district on sound financial footing.

“Chancellor Hendrickson has been an incredible asset to the West Valley-Mission Community College District, and he will be missed,” said Trustee Chad Walsh. “He has guided the district through great financial challenges and established a stable foundation that will be the launch pad for the district’s long-term success.”

Hendrickson counts among his key accomplishments the hiring of new presidents at both WVC and MC as well as the many construction projects that have happened at both colleges. He lists two primary challenges facing the district today: continuing the collaborative feeling that exists among employees and providing the necessary services during a time of greatly reduced state financial support. Hendrickson calls Schmitt “an excellent choice” to lead the district.

Schmitt was selected by the trustees after an extensive nationwide search. “Throughout a year-long national search, the district left no stone unturned in its search for our next chancellor,” said Associate Vice Chancellor Brad Davis, who chaired the search committee. “The district community feels strongly that it deserves the best leader possible, and given Dr. Schmitt’s unique combination of experience and vision, we believe we have found exactly that.”

MC President Laurel Jones said she is excited to have Schmitt on board.

“Dr. Schmitt brings with him an understanding of learning and program dynamics as well as a different perspective as an out-of-state selection,” Jones said. “His passion for teaching, his support of students, and his desire to help both colleges serve their respective communities is a great beginning for what Mission College hopes is a fruitful foundation of continued success for this dynamic district.”

Adrienne Grey, president of the Board of Trustees, said she was especially impressed with Schmitt’s progressive thinking about education and his clear, well-articulated way of speaking, even when answering questions extemporaneously. Those traits will serve him well, she said, not only within the college district, but also outside it.

“We definitely want someone who can connect to the community and he’ll be able to do that,” Grey said.

Walsh echoed the desire to have Schmitt connect, particularly with CEOs to inspire them to be involved with the colleges.

“Dr. Schmitt brings to our district a passion for education and the vision for connecting with the tech industry to effectively leverage the district’s location in Silicon Valley to enhance opportunities for our students and to make the West Valley-Mission Community College District a valuable resource for local businesses,” Walsh said.