City College names new president

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City College District Board of Trustees announced Monday the selection of Dr. Andreea Serban as the school’s new president.
Serban will take the helm June 2, a month before longtime City College president John Romo officially retires.
Desmond O’Neill, president of the Board of Trustees, said the seven-month-long national search for Romo’s replacement turned up several qualified candidates, but in the end it was Serban who fit best.

“She has some remarkable qualities and we’re confident she’ll do well,” he said. “We really did our homework on this one. I’m satisfied with the process.”
Serban is currently vice chancellor of technology and learning services at South Orange County Community College District in Mission Viejo, Calif.
It won’t be Serban’s first time at City College.
Prior to taking her post at South Orange, Serban was City College’s associate vice president for information technology, research and planning from 1999 to 2006.
Other top candidates included Jack Friedlander, City College’s current executive vice president and Blaine Nisson, president of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore.