By Khalida Sarwari
The Chancellor of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District Wednesday announced she is retiring at the end of the academic year.
Rosa Perez began her tenure as chancellor in Aug. 2005 and plans to retire on June 30, 2010.
In a letter that was read at the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, Perez stated that her health would not allow her to continue as chancellor.
Perez deflected taking credit for the accomplishments of the district, which is comprised of two colleges with more than 1,200 faculty, administrators and staff and enrollment of more than 30,000 students.
“We have been bold in expressing strong values and have mended many of the difficulties that were plaguing the district when I first became chancellor,” Perez said. “The credit, however, is truly due to the leadership at all levels of the organization and to the spirit that exists in this district.”
Jeanine Hawk, Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services, will serve as Acting Chancellor while Perez is currently on medical leave. The board is in the process of finding Perez’s permanent replacement.