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West Virginia educator named president of Las Positas College
Kevin Walthers will assume that was vacated a year ago

by Jeb Bing

The search for a new president of Las Positas College ended this week with the announcement that Kevin Walthers, now vice chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, has accepted the position.

Walthers, who holds a doctorate degree in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah, was among three finalists introduced at a public meeting last month on the Las Positas College campus.

Las Positas has been without a president since DeRionne Pollard resigned a year ago to become the president and CEO of Montgomery College in Maryland

"I am very excited about the future of Las Positas College under the leadership of Dr. Walthers," said Joel Kinnamon, district chancellor. "He is passionately committed to both the community college mission and to the students we serve."

Walthers, who also serves on the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, has been responsible for that state's financial aid program, which includes the Higher Education Grant Program and the PROMISE Scholarship. In addition, he oversees the West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing, the state's educational technology provider to K-12 schools, colleges and universities.

Prior to his time in West Virginia, Walthers was Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services at the College of Eastern Utah. In this position, he oversaw a portion of college operations including athletics, auxiliaries, facility management and financial operations.

His career as an educator began in Texas as a high school teacher. He also served in policy roles with the Utah State Legislature and as a senior administrator with the Utah State Board of Regents.

Besides his doctorate degree, Walthers holds a master's degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He began his college education at Eastfield College in the Dallas County Community College District.

Walthers is expected to take over the president's position at Las Positas College on Aug. 8.

Guy Lease, who has served as president of two colleges and as interim president for several others, has continued in that post at Las Positas since DeRionne Pollard resigned. Now retired, Lease said he had no interest in serving in the position full-time.