LTCC president calling it quits
By Kathryn Reed
Unable to hold back the tears, Kindred Murillo has mixed emotions about having tendered her resignation as president of Lake Tahoe Community College.
While she will be leaving behind an extensive list of accomplishments, it is the people she will miss the most. She only had good things to say about the boards she has worked for since talking the helm in July 2011, the faculty and classified staff.
What comes next for the 61-year-old remains to be seen. Whatever it is, it will have to be in a region without pine trees or at least with more humidity. Murillo is allergic to pine trees, which leads to colds and respiratory issues. Throughout the meeting Tuesday night she was dabbing at her eyes and blowing her nose – which at that time wasn’t about the sadness of her impending departure.
“I can retire, but I really like what I do,” Murillo told Lake Tahoe News after the special closed session. “I may look at select opportunities. I had a great experience here.”
Kindred Murillo is Lake Tahoe Community College’s fourth president, having been hired in 2011.
Jim Duke served from 1974-90; Guy lease 1990-2007, and Paul Killpatrick 2008-10.
She doesn’t have a solid end date, which gives the board flexibility and the potential for the college to transition from one president to the next with some overlap. At the earliest she will leave June 30, the latest is Feb. 1, 2017.
If the board doesn’t have someone on board by then, an interim president will be hired from outside the college, board President Fritz Wenck said.
The college board spent 90 minutes Jan. 19 discussing what happens next in finding the 42-year-old institution’s fifth president. A search firm will be hired and from there a nationwide search will begin.
What exactly the board wants in the next leader will be discussed in greater detail in closed session at the Jan. 26 meeting. The next president will oversee the spending of the bulk of the bond money that voters approved in 2014 as well as the upcoming accreditation process.
“We are buckling up to try to do the best we can with a situation that is very unhappy for us,” Wenck told Lake Tahoe News. “She is an outstanding president and none of us wants to see her go.” But he recognizes that her health must come first.
For Murillo, she is most proud of having brought the college to a point of fiscal solvency, with a plan for the college’s future. This includes having identified issues with the facilities, as well as technological shortfalls.
“My hallmark is the fiscal plan so the college is here for the community and the future,” Murillo said.
She spearheaded the $55 million facilities bond. Wenck gave her a ton of credit for that, admitting it’s something he didn’t think would come to fruition.
Murillo does have one major goal left – the one set for herself and the college at the onset of her tenure here – to have LTCC be a four-year college.
With local resident Lisa Maloff donating more than $5 million for a university center, Murillo’s goal is on the path to completion.
“To make sure there is four-year education in South Lake Tahoe is the last thing to complete,” Murillo said. She is working hard to have one or two universities lined up by the end of this fiscal year.
A huge loss to our college and community! Who ever comes next will have big shoes to fill. Aloha Kindred
I have a different spin on the fiscal solvency claim.
After years of mismanagement by others, failure to maintain the facility as it should have been, Kindred has organized a bond issue in other words, BORROWED to her way to the stated “state of fiscal solvency”.
Dropping enrollment levels certainly do not provide any comfort that things are any better, and it boggles my mind to hear the talk of a 4 year college here when the institution cannot sustain its enrollment consistently.
It is not a new phrase, but the college under Kindred seems to be caught up in the “if you build it they will come” premise of a fantasy baseball movie. And the voters drank the koolaid.
Even more confusing and disturbing is the very recent article about the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors looking to place a 4 year school in the western part of the county? One could easily come to the conclusion that the Supervisors do not believe LTCC is going to make it so they are searching for an option which does not involve South Lake Tahoe.
In the best interpretation, this new effort for a 4 year school in the County amounts to fishing in the same pond where Kindred has not even gotten a bite.
Maybe Mrs. Murrillo, realizing LTCC is failing has her sights set on that slot should it happen….after all, it is mostly oak trees down there and perhaps she is not so allergic to them.
Well said Gerald. The voters were sold a ‘bill of goods’ (or lies, as otherwise known) on the LTCC Bond Measure. Remember “we will lose 50 million in matching funds, we will be a 4 year institution”, (no really, just trust us) etc.
After what she has done, of course she must hit the road. Good riddance.
BTW, Pine pollen in the winter? I don’t think so. Go shake ANY pine tree here and see if it gives off pollen right now. Someone needs an education. Seriously?
http://acaai.org/allergies/types/allergy-myths/pine-tree-allergy
While pine tree allergy is relatively uncommon, there are two main allergens of concern that come from pine trees: pine nuts and pine pollen. Pine nuts (pignoli) are the edible seeds of certain species of pine trees, and are used in a variety of foods, including Italian pesto. Pine nut consumption has increased due to its use in the Mediterranean Diet. Pine pollen is produced when the trees reproduce in the springtime. It is possible for pollen to travel very long distances in the air.
You must take risks to do great things. Bond measure F is a huge success for the community. I’d love to invest more in education. Lord knows we don’t have very many educated folks as it is.
We did not get robbed. The community voted for it. Also look at our high school. Look at what the bond measure has done for it. Don’t be so obtuse.
Kindred will be missed. Let’s hope we can find someone who can match her level of greatness.
You will be sorely missed. It must be very satisfying for you to know that you left this community, and more specifically the college, better than the way you found it. Well done!
LeanForward-
I think you are mixing up your bond issues. The college bond issue has nothing to do with the high school expansion and new construction.
Brooke, I agree. My wife got her AA there, My oldest was attending there and Marshall just got his AA there. I also attended business classes there with Mort Meiers. A 4 year college with emphasis on recreation would be a welcome legacy.
Dr. Murillo will definitely be missed. During her time at LTCC, she has stabilized the college, enrollments have been growing steadily since their low (low for a number of factors that really had nothing to do with LTCC on its own). If anyone is curious about the numbers, LTCC recently published its factbook for last academic year: http://www.ltcc.edu/web/about/fact-book
The bond measure that updated/upgraded the high school was a huge success, and I firmly believe we will seem similar results from Measure F. I don’t think LeanForward was confused at all, just pointing out a success story that could be repeated.
I am really looking forward to seeing what the future brings for LTCC – the University Center, the improvements with the bond, and the great partnerships with the community that were created by Dr. Murillo’s leadership.
Yeah Cranky. I know they are different. I’m simply pointing out how previous bond measures have fared. I also believe college enrollment is on the rise again.
Kenny-
Did’ja really think allergy to pine trees was part of the issue?
It is just part of the LTCC obfuscating smoke screen.
Cranky, LOL
Lake Tahoe is fortunate to have Dr. Murillo’s vision and leadership on board. I know I’m not alone being sad to see her tenure come to an end. She will leave tremendous shoes to be filled. Her work spans beyond campus improvements to addressing equity issues and achievement gaps that hold our community back. I applaud her accomplishments and can’t wait to see what the future holds for the college.
Jenna and Jaime sound like LTCC shills.
Factually…from the data,
Class size falling.
Number of cancelled sections significantly increasing.
Total enrollment NOT significantly increasing but slightly.
By the way….what happened to the TRIO program? Word has it that qualification or continuance forms were not filed timely due to human error and the deadline passed. Will this program be renewed in the future?
Anyone can “fix” a short-term financial problem by borrowing millions of dollars. But that is no fix. That is another problem that someone else will have to deal with. And, ultimately, we will pay for that too.
cranky and mike: yup yup
Hmmm. Leaving town so she won’t have to pay the property tax increase she foisted on all the locals?
Nice.
Pump your brakes, Cranky. You don’t know me. If women like Jamie and I threaten your ideologies about the college, get a grip… next thing you know, we’ll be voting. Oh wait, we already did, along with the hundreds of other local residents who support the work LTCC does in this community. No need to sling mud at people who have differing views from yours. But, I guess that’s how it goes on this blog.
Jenna, you do collect your paycheck from LTCC and Jamie is on college’s foundation board. You are the one who sounds cranky and brought the comments to a lower level. Ah, still bitter about your husband’s loss in the city council election?
I don’t think that opinions supporting Kindred Murillo and one of our community’s major assets has ‘brought the comments to a lower level’-just the opposite for those that understand the enormous benefits LTCC contributes to our quality of life here in Lake Tahoe-if people don’t want to pay taxes for education they should move to one of the nearby stupid states where they won’t have to
You will be so missed. However, your legacy will be well known for you will have left this community, and specifically the college, better than the way in which you found it. It has been an honor working with you. Well done!!!!