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Judy Miner
Judy Miner
01:23

Judy Miner

Foothill-De Anza Community College District

Sunnyvale, CA USA

"Must be present to win."

Career Roadmap

Judy's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Working with Others

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Day In The Life

Chancellor

I get resources and remove obstacles for a community college district.

01:01

Day In The Life Of A Community College District Chancellor

My Day to Day

My Outlook calendar looks like a subway map because of the varied and overlapping activities and events that guide my work in any given day. In addition to multiple internal meetings that I chair or attend as part of my CEO role, I serve on external boards for regional and national organizations such as the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, NOVAworks, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, University of San Francisco, League for Innovation in the Community College, and Year Up.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

I was hired as the dean of admissions and records at the City College of San Francisco when I was just 26 years old. On my first day, one of my colleagues told me that I never should've been hired. There was a lot of resentment and some sabotage, but I also had female colleagues who were looking out for me. I stayed for five years but realized I didn't have the political temperament to keep at it, so I found a better fitting position.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    History and French

    Lone Mountain College

  • Graduate Degree

    History

    Lone Mountain College

  • Doctorate

    Organization and Leadership

    University of San Francisco

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    I fell in love with the French language in high school, so my goal was to go to college, study French, and then come back to my high school to teach French.

  • 2.

    I ended up double majoring in French and history, and decided to also get my master’s degree in history.

  • 3.

    While in college, I became a student worker in the registrar’s office and learned that I really liked helping students through the administrative process.

  • 4.

    I went to law school, and during that time, I got the opportunity to become the dean of admissions and records at City College of San Francisco.

  • 5.

    I stayed for five years but decided to move on to a management consulting position at Peat Marwick Mitchell—that led to a position with the state chancellor’s office for community colleges.

  • 6.

    From there, I got the opportunity to work at De Anza College, where I spent 19 years, including the last nine years as the vice president of instruction.

  • 7.

    I then served as president of Foothill College for eight years.

  • 8.

    Now I serve as chancellor for the district as a whole.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Peers:

    You should have never been hired but the president keeps picking skirts.

  • How I responded:

    I was hired as the dean of admissions and records at the City College of San Francisco when I was just 26 years old. On my first day, one of my colleagues told me that I never should've been hired. There was a lot of resentment and some sabotage, but I also had female colleagues who were looking out for me. I stayed for five years but realized I didn't have the political temperament to keep at it, so I found a better fitting position.