New president takes reins on Feb. 27
SMC — The new top administrator here said the school’s academic reputation is what prompted him to apply for the position.
Dr. Chui Tsang, a first-generation Californian who was born and raised in China, was selected on Monday to b e c o m e S a n t a M o n i c a C o l l e g e ’ s next president. Tsang, 54, currently serves as president of San Jose City College. He’s expected to take the reins at SMC on Feb. 27.
Of central importance to Tsang in applying for the position was SMC’s academic prowess, including that of its faculty, he said.
“Santa Monica College is a pre-eminent institution with an outstanding reputation,” Tsang said. “It’s the kind of community college others in the state try to become.
“The faculty has great credentials and are known to be some of the best and brightest in their fields.”
Tsang will earn $175,000 per year. He will receive $24,000 per year for housing, $650 per month for a car allowance, and a one-time $5,000 for moving expenses, according to Bruce Smith, SMC’s public relations officer.
Tsang has two children, Richard, 20, a junior at UC Berkeley majoring in political science and history, and Kathryn, 19, a sophomore at UC Davis majoring in biology.
Tsang said he has no family or immediate relations who live in Santa Monica or anywhere else in Southern California. However, he said he looks forward to becoming part of the local community.
“Santa Monica has a reputation of being a different kind of place, very progressive, unique, with a diverse population and lifestyle that is the envy of a lot of people,” Tsang said. “I’m excited to have been chosen, and I think it’s a good match with my educational experience and what SMC is looking for.”
Members of SMC’s board of trustees indicated in remarks on Monday that Tsang’s sense of humor and level-headed-ness were among the reasons they thought his administrative style would fit with the mission of the college.
Tsang will succeed Dr. Piedad Robertson, who left the college in January to become president of the Denver-based Education Commission of the States.
According to a biographical profile, Dr. Tsang came to the United States via Hong Kong in 1971 at the age of 19. He received his start in education as a student at Contra Costa Community College in San Pablo. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, Tsang earned his doctorate in linguistics at Stanford University, where he taught for several years.
Dr. Tsang soon left his teaching career behind to work full-time as the director of the Career Resources Development Center in San Francisco, where he specialized in providing job training to refugees, immigrants and the unemployed. He also served as dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology at City College of San Francisco for five years.
He became president of San Jose City College, which has an enrollment of more than 10,000 students, in 1997 and remained at the post for the past nine years.
While at San Jose, Tsang led the college during a $200 million-plus construction boom, funded primarily by voter-approved bonds in 1998 and 2004. The projects included a new parking structure, library, tech center, student center and science complex, according to an SMC press release. Under his leadership, a strategic planning model was developed under which the faculty continuously updates the college priorities and academic disciplines to reflect the changing needs of students and shifting economic trends.
In May 2004, Tsang was honored as a “local hero” by the Asian Pacific American Heritage for his commitment and contributions to the Bay Area through business, community activism, education and social services.
On Monday, SMC’s board of trustees elected a new chair and vice chair. The board will be working in the next two months to prepare Tsang for his arrival and help him adjust to his new position.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 12, 2005. Read the original PDF.