Dr. Rajen Vurdien set to take role as new president

With years of experience under his belt, Dr. Rajen Vurdien is excited to be the eighth President of Fullerton College.

Dr. Vurdien has learned quite a bit about the education system through his various positions in the field. His leadership roles such as Director of Graduate Programs in Education and Vice President of Instruction at Saddleback College have definitely prepared him for his current role as president. Dr. Vurdien wants to share this knowledge with the staff and faculty at Fullerton College in hopes to make an even better institution.

In Fall 2009, then President Dr. Kathleen Hodge left Fullerton College to assume a new position on the North Orange County Community Colleges District as vice chancellor of instruction. To fill in for her place until a new president was found, Dr. Sam Schauerman was hired as an interim president.

In May 2010, Vurdien was elected and on July 19 he started his role as the current FC president. After a few weeks, Dr. Vurdien says he loves Fullerton College and is very excited to work with the students and staff. The staff is also excited to work with the new president and have said many great things about him.

"I am very excited to work with our new president, Dr. Rajen Vurdien," said Bob Jensen, dean of fine arts. "In the short time that I have known him, I have been impressed by his inquiring and listening spirit, commitment to positive change, and his people skills."

Currently, Vurdien and his staff are in the process of setting up their plan for the next years. An important event they are planning for is the visit from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges in the spring. It is very important that Fullerton College meets all the standards because without approval there will be no school.

Another event Vurdien and the administration are looking forward to is the school's 100-year anniversary. With the milestone upcoming, the president hopes the college continues to remain one the the leading community colleges and continues to serve the community in the best possible ways. 

"Dr. Vurdien is a world class leader. He has quickly demonstrated an ability to shape a progressive and positive approach for conducting the affairs of the college," said Sean Chamberlain, faculty president-elect. "What makes him different than previous presidents is his willingness to listen, to make decisions based on consensus and common sense, and to vigorously move the college forward in areas where processes are lacking, such as planning, budgeting, and student learning outcomes."

For a more in-depth story on Dr. Rajen Vurdien, check out "New Kid on the Block" in the Local section.