Vice President of Instruction, Annette Lambson, retires

After 16 years at Yuba College, Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Annette Lambson, is retiring. According to Lambson, she will remain in office until the end of June.While at Yuba, Lambson has accomplished much, including hiring whom she considers “excellent faculty,” developing the Distributive Education Program, bringing consistency to the curriculum process and leading the Premier College Plan, which in turn allowed the college to develop the library’s electronic information system, telephone registration and a Marysville Campus Landscape Plan, among other accomplishments. When asked how long she had been planning to retire, Lambson replied that she had been thinking of it for a couple of years. “It has nothing to do with the fiscal situation. It has to do with where I am in my life,” said Lambson.Lambson’s administrative career began at Clark College in Washington State. There she taught English composition and literature for six years before becoming the Associate Dean of Instruction. Lambson feels this experience gave her a deep and abiding respect for the impact that a teacher can have on the life of a student. “A heavy responsibility goes with it: to give the students your best effort and expect the same from them,” said Lambson.She then came to Yuba College as the Dean of Instruction in 1985. Lambson feels that during the 16 years she has been at Yuba she has learned that “we are all in this program together, each having a job to do.” She also believes that we need to plan, to listen to each other and then do the best job we can.According to Lambson, what she likes best about Yuba College is that it is “a jewel in the crown of the community.” She feels students come to Yuba to improve their lives, and because of the dedication of the teachers, the staff and the administration at Yuba, many students attain this goal. “I’ve also worked with some excellent administrators and classified staff,” said Lambson.Lambson said that she had three teachers who influenced her life: “A high school music teacher who expected self discipline, a college teacher who told me I could write well and a doctoral statistics teacher who believed that I, an English major, could learn Statistics.” When asked what she is planning to do after retiring Lambson said, “I’m sure I will do some traveling and spend more time with my children. I’ll get back to my music, but right now all my energy goes towards this job. It’s a profession.”As for her replacement, Lambson said that she understands that her position will be replaced as soon as the new president of Yuba College is hired in spring 2002. Yuba College Superintendent / President Dr. Stephen Epler announced his retirement early this semester.”It will be February when my replacement is hired,” said Lambson. “In between, there will be some kind of temporary replacement. Probably a rent-a-dean.”Lambson explained that a rent-a-dean is usually someone who has retired from the profession but is very professional, able to come into office, grasp the situation quickly, make decisions and leave. “They’re not green around the ears,” said Lambson. Lambson said that she feels her replacement’s biggest challenge will be planning for growth in the instructional program at a time when the college is under fiscal restraints. However, Lambson does feel the college can recover. “We have to be resilient,” said Lambson. According to Lambson, President Epler is making the right decision by waiting until the new president is hired before hiring a permanent Dean. “The new president will want to build his or her own team,” said Lambson.In a recent interview, Epler said that the Board of Trustees is in the process of approving a proposal that the next Superintendent / President will choose Lambson’s replacement from the group of Superintendent / President finalists. “I think that gives that person the opportunity to choose who they are most comfortable with,”said Epler. Epler feels it is necessary to fill Lambson’s vacant position with a temporary dean as soon as she retires even amidst the hiring freeze and the current budget crisis. “One person needs to hold it together in a minimal sense then all the deans and others, including myself, can help out,” said Epler. He said that the replacement will have the same basic responsibilities but will have restrictions in decision-making.However, Epler did say that Lambson’s replacement will not earn the same amount or have the same benefits as a full-time employee. “Because they are not here every day of the week, there is some savings during that six to seven months,” said Epler. He compared this situation to the salary of the temporary replacement of the Vice President of Business who, according to Epler, was a cost of about 60 to 65 percent of the normal cost.Regarding Lambson, Epler feels Yuba College is fortunate to have had the leadership of Lambson for a number of years. He feels the support and leadership of Lambson has guided Yuba to a more technological state. “We’ve had a real stable guidance with Annette,” said Epler. “I feel very, very lucky.”