Summer 2003
Volume 9, Issue 4

President Kanter Cherishes Memories, Looks to Future
as Next Chancellor

Faculty, staff and administrators at De Anza College were given bittersweet news in May when they learned that the campus will lose a much-loved and respected president, but the college district will gain a champion chancellor in Dr. Martha J. Kanter.

After a nationwide search to replace Leo Chavez, who stepped down as chancellor in January to become executive vice president of Community Foundation Silicon Valley, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees named Kanter to the position on May 12, 2003. She will take over from Interim Chancellor Lois Callahan on July 1.

Kanter has been president of De Anza for the past 10 years, and says she will miss the day-to-day experience of seeing and talking with the faculty, staff and students at the college.

ñJust about every day I spent on campus over the past 10 years, I connected with many different, wonderful people, all working to achieve extraordinary educational goals, doing such critically important work to benefit our students,î Kanter says. ñI will miss the tiny, beautiful parts of the college that we often overlook while we go about our business-the way particular trees sway in the wind, the flowers that grace our entrance that is not yet the proper entrance for the college, the art on campus, the fallen balustrades that need restoration, the music, the long and winding conversations, the Grecian laurels in the Sunken Garden, the rush of students and faculty on their way to class, the smiles on the faces of the staff who are ready to help anyone who comes their way, all the tiny parts of the college that make it so wonderful.î

She doesnÍt plan to dwell on the past, however, and already has plans for her new role as chancellor.

ñI am looking forward to leading our district by developing relationships and action plans that matter, that will be of great benefit to our students and the communities we serve. I plan to work closely with our board of trustees and our constituency groups,î Kanter says. ñI look forward to building the highest quality educational programs that we can develop to fulfill the hopes and dreams of our students. I expect to achieve the goals of our educational master plan and lead the development of a new master plan to bring us to the year 2010.î

Kanter says that becoming better acquainted with her new colleagues at Central Services and Foothill College will be essential to build a shared vision for the district and plans for the future.

ñStrong, trusted and lasting relationships will allow us to accomplish great things and overcome enormous adversity. We can face just about any challenge I can imagine if we build trust and open our hearts and minds to the shared vision of a better future for our students,î she says. ñI look forward to the responsibilities that the chancellor must assume and to do the best possible job that I can for our district.î

No doubt KanterÍs strong advocacy for community colleges at the state level will continue to serve the district well during the tough economic times still ahead.

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