College board shifts positions

Glendale News Press
April 19 2005

Gabrielian is named president, and new vice president says replacing Najarian, Davitt will be tough.
By Rima Shah, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE — There were no surprises at Glendale Community College’s
reorganization of the board Monday night when Anita Gabrielian was
unanimously appointed president.

Gabrielian, SBC’s executive director of external affairs, public
policy and community affairs, was the third-highest vote-getter in
the April 5 municipal election.

She replaces Victor King, the outgoing president who was also reelected
to the board.

Board Clerk Kathleen Burke-Kelly was appointed as vice president
and Armine Hacopian, reelected to the board with the most votes,
was named the new clerk.

“The challenges that lie ahead for the board are replacing [Ara]
Najarian and [John] Davitt,” Burke-Kelley said. “I am happy to be in
a position to be able to do that.”

Gabrielian has many challenges ahead as president, Hacopian said.

“The biggest challenge is to appoint a consulting team and to interview
for the post of the superintendent,” Hacopian said.

The consulting team will help conduct a nationwide search and
interviews to replace Davitt, the superintendent president who will
retire in 2006.

The new board must also select a replacement for Najarian, who won
a seat on the City Council in the April 5 election.

“We will be conducting interviews within the next 60 days,” Hacopian
said. “We have a choice of having an election, but we probably are
going to appoint someone.”

Academically, Hacopian said she hopes the board will look into ways
to increase the transfer rate to four-year colleges.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress