After a year filled with substantial challenges including the resignation of its embattled president, Whittier College’s Board of Trustees has announced this week the appointment of a new chair.
Ron Gastelum, a 1968 graduate of the four-year liberal arts school, who also served on the college’s board from 1996-2001, has taken the reins from interim board chair Kenya Willliams, who retains her seat on the board.
In a May 17 letter to the Whittier College faculty, Gastelum introduced himself as the new chair as well as announced five new/returning members of the board.
Gastelum, who also holds a JD degree from UCLA, was CEO and general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California from 1999 to 2004. He also served as interim executive vice president of the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce.
He is coming out of retirement to take on the board chair position and, in the letter, said he’s been closely monitoring the events at the college for the past five years.
“I am moving quickly to understand the concerns expressed by many on a range of topics vital to the College’s future,” Gastelum wrote. “I will be soliciting the informed views and well-intentioned suggestions of the many who have perspectives that not only myself, but the entire Board, should hear in what I hope will be a renewed spirit of collaboration.”
Gastelum comes into the chair position after a concerted effort by a Whittier College alumni group to oust its president. Linda Oubré — less than a month after insisting she wouldn’t resign — did just that on May 12. Her last official day will be June 30.
The same day Oubré announced her resignation, the Board of Trustees named an interim president. Sal johnston (who prefers his name spelled in lowercase), will take on that role and help the board with its national search for Whittier College’s next president. Johnston was the college’s vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty.
Though there are some rumblings about the appointment of johnston as interim — from faculty and from alumni — Gastelum told the Whittier Daily News in an email the stability of having an immediate replacement for Oubré was important.
Having an interim president – like johnston – will allow the board to determine both short and medium-term leadership needs, Gastelum said.
Still, some alumni like Elizabeth Power Robison, are not convinced, calling johnston’s appointment “a disastrous choice.”
“In his current capacity as VP and Dean of Faculty, sal johnston is a core member of the team that for the past five years has failed in its leadership of the College and has put the College on the brink of collapse,” Robison said. “He has lost the trust of the faculty and cannot lead the recovery efforts that are needed to rebuild enrollment and secure philanthropic support.
But Gastelum insisted the new board will not delay in reaching out to all Whittier College stakeholders.
“Just as importantly, Dr. johnston, myself and the entire Board of Trustees will not wait to open lines of communication in order to restore trust and good faith with our Poet community,” Gastelum said.
Gastelum, in his May 17 letter, wrote he is energized about collaborating with johnston as they work to identify traits the college needs in its next president over the summer.
“While we will discuss and announce the plan for the search later this summer, I am planning to begin the process of conducting a series of meetings with our alumni, faculty, staff, and students to gather your input and hear your desires for our next president,” Gastelum wrote.
Gastelum also announced a handful of new board members, all alumni. It’s the board’s hope this will help regaining trust within the Poet community, he said.
The new board members include:
• Richard Gilchrist (1968), a trustee emeritus, who comes back as a full-time member
• Raquel Torres-Retana (1991)
• Tiffany Dean (1997)
• Lila Wiggs Laviano (2003).
The board is also in the process of bringing back Kristine Dillon (1973), who is respected for experience in board management, Gastelum said.
By July 1, the Whittier College Board of Trustees will have a total of 22 members, with the possibility of two additional members joining before that date, according to Patti Waid, spokesperson for the college.
The Board of Trustees in a statement thanked Oubré for her service as president, adding her leadership had built a strong foundation for the college’s future. But some were anticipating her resignation after a series of issues this year. Oubré, who signed on as Whittier College’s first Black president and third woman president in 2018, still had about three years left on her contract and full support of its Board of Trustees. And as recently as last month, appeared steadfast in riding out those years.
Oubré said part of her tenure was occupied by making the “tough decision” to realign resources with the college mission, to stave off fully shutting down the school, which had been beset like many small schools with declining enrollment. It was a decision that led the campus community and alumni upset during an era of declining enrollment and dwindling finances at the more than 130-year-old institution, the undergraduate home to former President Richard Nixon.
In addition to declining enrollment, the college’s financial situation mostly declined in concert, according to financial statements posed on its website. In 2018, Whittier had roughly $299 million in assets. That number fell to $282 million in 2020, but then was bolstered by the MacKenzie Scott’s private donation in 2021 to $322 million. Last year, the college showed $294 million in assets.
This included the dismantling of sports programs, such as football and lacrosse, multiple trustees’ resignations or firings, and a lackluster annual drive.
These issues prompted the formation of the alumni group titled Save Whittier College, which drafted a statement of no confidence in Oubré, which accused the president of poor financial management and failure to advance the mission of the college.
In addition, Save Whittier College launched its own fundraising campaign with $500,000 in pledges that it promised to the school if Oubre left by May 1. Those pledges will be met once Oubré is out of office, said Patty Hill, member of the Save Whittier College Group.
The pledges created a visible contrast between the campaign and the college’s annual Big Poet Give, which raised only $130,000 this year, about half what the appeal usually garners, according to the Save Whittier College website.
Oubré’s departure is what alumni groups believe to be the “first step” to restoring the college. But those groups also alleged the board remains negligent in its financial responsibility to the institution.
With upcoming changes being made in the composition of the board, Gastelum said, that could potentially change.
Williams, the interim chair for the past several months, said in a statement on May 13, she welcomed back the “longstanding” Whittier college leaders Gastelum and Gilchrist to the board.
“We look forward to continuing to engage with our alumni, staff, students and faculty, who truly care about the future of our college,” Williams said. “The next chapter for Whittier College promises dynamic changes that continue moving us forward.
Williams added the board recognizes and welcomes concerns from alumni, faculty, staff and members of the student body.
And, new chair Gastelum agreed collaboration was key.
“I believe our actions (not just words), will demonstrate our dedication to the bright future that lies ahead for our students and the College as we all work together,” he said.
Staff Writer Lisa Jacobs contributed to this article.
