Yosemite Community College District board appoints interim chancellor
Lena Tran has been appointed interim chancellor of the Yosemite Community College District, which oversees Modesto Junior College and Columbia College in Sonora.
The YCCD Board of Trustees approved her appointment during its regular meeting Wednesday.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as interim chancellor of this incredible district,” said Tran in a press release. “I look forward to working with our dedicated trustees, faculty, staff and community partners at both Modesto Junior College and Columbia College to create a future where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we will strengthen our institutions, expand student support services and increase resources through fundraising and grant development.”
Tran has served as president of Columbia College since March 2022. Prior to that, she held executive leadership roles at San Jose City College and Evergreen Valley College, where she was recognized for her innovative approach to program development and for building strong partnerships with major companies including Microsoft, Google, Honda and Apple.
She steps into the role following the retirement of Chancellor Henry Yong, who had led the district since 2017. Yong was the ninth chancellor to oversee YCCD since Modesto Junior College and Columbia College were unified under the district in 1968. He announced his retirement last June.
Tran holds a doctorate in education in organizational and leadership development from the University of San Francisco, an MBA from Seton Hall University and a bachelor’s degree in international business from Montclair State University. A former Fulbright Scholar, she has earned multiple leadership accolades, including being named one of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40.”
“Dr. Tran’s proven leadership and deep understanding of student needs make her exceptionally qualified to serve as Interim Chancellor,” said board President Milton Richards in a press release. “She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to improving access to education, developing workforce pipelines, and enhancing student success across the district.”
Richards said that under Tran’s leadership, Columbia College has gained national recognition for its academic and career programs, strengthened strategic partnerships and risen in national rankings. He added that her vision and proven track record of delivering results make her well-suited to lead the district through this transitional period.
As president of Columbia College, Tran has helped secure $20 million in grant funding, strengthened partnerships with organizations such as Cal Fire and boosted student enrollment to pre-pandemic levels.
Votes of no confidence
Some faculty are not pleased with the decision, however.
In November, the Columbia College Academic Senate issued a vote of no confidence in Tran. The Modesto Junior College Academic Senate voted Dec. 5 to support that decision. The Columbia College Classified Senate followed with its own unanimous vote of no confidence about a week later.
The November resolution stated that Tran “has exhibited poor performance in key areas of the president’s job description” and called for her resignation or removal as president. It also referenced faculty complaints and noted that a number of staff have left the college, citing inhospitable working conditions and suffering campus morale.
In an interview with The Bee in December, Tran said she was shocked and disappointed by the vote, adding that she had not been given the chance to address any of the concerns beforehand and hoped to learn the specific grievances in order to work toward solutions. She also noted that she had brought on a consultant to help improve communication.
“I am a leader, and I will fix it. I will correct it, I will admit it, but I need to know exactly what they are,” Tran said, regarding the complaints. She also emphasized that employees are leaving for better opportunities rather than due to leadership.
According to faculty member Adrienne Seeger, the YCCD board did not begin the search for a new chancellor until January and chose to fill the role on an interim basis rather than opening a permanent position.
The board initially proposed a one-week, internal-only application window. However, following community pushback, the position was opened to all candidates for 30 days.
Instead of following standard district hiring practices, which typically include input from various constituent groups throughout the screening process, applicants were screened only by board members. A 10-person community and constituent group interviewed the top two candidates and recommended the external applicant.
“Although President Tran was under investigation at the time and not the choice of the community and constituent committee, the board voted to approve her appointment at their April 9th meeting but chose not to announce her appointment until their May 14th meeting,” Seeger said in a statement.
