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Provost Joann La Perla Named New President of Middlesex County College
Provost Joann La Perla
The Board of Trustees of Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey, has named Dr. Joann La Perla, City Tech’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, as the college’s new president. She was one of 40 candidates for the job in a nationwide search that began earlier this year.
A veteran academic administrator and onetime Peace Corps volunteer, La Perla will assume her new position in January, replacing John Bakum, who announced in December of last year that he would retire at the end of 2004 after 37 years at the college, the last eight as president.
" Dr. La Perla is an innovative educator with a wealth of experience in community colleges," Gerald Ostrov, chairman of the board of trustees, said in announcing her appointment. "She received high marks and enthusiastic recommendations throughout the interview and selection process from a broad cross-section of the college community. The board feels she has the vision and ability to lead and unite Middlesex as we move into the next era. We are very pleased she will be joining us."
At City Tech, where she has been provost since 1999, La Perla developed and implemented three new baccalaureate programs in applied mathematics, health services administration and architectural technology, with others in the developmental stages. She also led the college's strategic planning process and created an Office of Institutional Assessment and an Office of Instructional Technology. During the past five years, she recruited 160 new full-time faculty members and revitalized the college’s Grants Office, securing $3.7 million in federal funding, including two Title V grants that supported a learning-centered environment.
A New Jersey resident, La Perla was thrilled with her appointment. "I'm very excited about coming back to New Jersey," she said when informed of her selection. "I'm also very happy that I'm coming back to a community college where the possibilities are terrific. Middlesex has a reputation for high quality education and a commitment to student success. I look forward to working closely with the entire college community to advance this mission, and to working with all areas of the external community to develop creative ways to better serve the people of Middlesex and New Jersey."
Before coming to City Tech, La Perla’s served as both dean of continuing education and associate vice president and acting provost at Union County College in New Jersey, associate dean for academic affairs at Bloomfield College, and, more recently, as dean of instruction at Nassau Community College. She also held both teaching and administrative posts at Montclair State University during the late1970s and early 1980s. She holds a doctorate in higher education from Columbia University Teachers College and is widely recognized for her accomplishments in the areas of academic program development and evaluation, her knowledge of business and industry, and her appreciation for the special needs and problems of non-traditional students.
She began her career as an instructor in the Peace Corps, teaching English as a Second Language in Bogotá, Colombia. When she returned to the United States, she taught English as a Second Language in Brooklyn and at Montclair State University. She also taught Spanish during her 35 years in education.
“I join the entire City Tech community in thanking Provost La Perla for her service and contributions to the college,” said President Russell K. Hotzler. “We all wish her and Middlesex well as she assumes the presidency of this outstanding institution.”
Middlesex County College serves approximately 11,800 students in 80 degree and certificate programs. It employs more than 200 full-time and approximately 350 part-time faculty at its Edison campus and New Brunswick and Perth Amboy satellite urban centers. Additional courses are offered at sites throughout the county.
