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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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.