It has been three weeks since former president Tony Cantu’s unexpected death, and while a cloud of sadness still hovers over the college, it is time to wipe away our tears and continue with our lives. That is what Tony Cantu would want us to do.

Whether we think we are ready or not, the semester is speeding to conclusion; there is graduation to be planned; awards ceremonies to celebrate high achievers; summer and fall registration to be managed, not to mention the day-to-day running of these campus of more than 20,000 lives. We cannot dwell on the past, we have to find a way to move on.

The first step in forging ahead in these times is choosing a leader, even if on an interim basis — a president who can provide the vision we need at this time. These difficult times call for great leadership – a person who is transparent; compassionate; hardworking, loyal and resolute on matters that count.

In considering the qualities of this interim leader, the board must consider the unique nature of Fresno City College. According to information on the Institutional Research site, the college had 22,701 students enrolled in the fall of 2014. Of that number, at 51 percent, Hispanics represent the largest group. Fifty two percent of FCC students are female; 55 percent are younger than 24 years, but a sizable 23 percent of our students are more than 30 years old. Fifty nine percent of our students are enrolled part time.

While racial and ethnic diversity is one of FCC’s strengths, it can present its own difficulties at times. Namely, how can the college, in these periods of uncertainties, ensure that all students stay on track to completing their goals. While the vice presidents are holding their own and the academic deans and other leaders are doing all they can, the college needs a president, for logistical reasons as well as for morale purposes. We need the security of having a trusted leader setting the pace and the agenda for the college.

So what do we want in our new leader? A good leader must be transparent and willing to be subjected to scrutiny. She/he must give students unrestricted access to the presidency and should be willing to listen to their goals as well as their complaints and grievances. Our new leader should champion the students’ causes.

The new president should treat faculty and staff as partners in our students success. She/he should respect all the constituents and what they bring to the table. She/he should hold forums and listen to others’ concerns and be willing to advance other perspectives at the district level. She must recognize the importance of all stakeholders.

We need a leader who is compassionate and understanding of our population. She/he has to be willing to reach out, to step out of their comfort zones to connect with the college community in this time of grief. At this particular time, she must champion our quest to raise enough funds for the Tony Cantu memorial scholarship and help us all heal from this grave loss.

We want a president who works hard to advance FCC’s goals. She/he must be a fighter for our needs in the district’s budget allocations process and fight for our entitlements.

Our need leader must be loyal and commit to the college for the entire contract period. Our leader should be aware of the instability that is created with each change in administration and always put FCC first. We do not want a leader who is so interested in self-promotion that he/she fails to focus on us.

We want a leader who is resolute. Yes, while able to consider many perspectives, a good leader is not afraid to take unpopular decisions. We want a leader who can lead and,
who could, once again, inspire the entire college community.