California Community Colleges - Executive

Dr. Diane Carey Woodruff was appointed Interim Chancellor of the California Community Colleges by the Board of Governors on July 8, 2007. The President of the Board of Governors, Kay Albiani, said “The Board of Governors has made an historic decision by naming the first woman to lead the largest higher educational system in the world. We as a board are impressed with Dr. Woodruff’s executive experience, management style, administrative background and commitment to students.”

Prior to her appointment, Dr. Woodruff served as Interim President/CEO and Vice President of the Community College League of California, the primary organization that serves the 430 locally elected governing board members and 130 chief executive officers of California’s 72 community college districts and 109 colleges. She reported to the Board of Directors and worked with the CEO Board and trustee board to develop agenda items, policy papers, identify issues of concern and appropriate responses on statewide policy, legislation and other key issues related to community colleges. She also represented The League at Board of Governors meetings and Consultation Council and testified on behalf of community college trustees and CEO’s in the Capitol. Furthermore, she developed education and training programs for college presidents, trustees, administrators, faculty members, classified staff members and students -- including the CEO Leadership Institute, mentoring program for New CEOs, Asilomar Leadership Skills Program and Participatory Governance Training with Statewide Academic Senate.

Prior to her coming to The League, Dr. Woodruff was the Superintendent/President of the Napa Valley Community College District for 10 years. She was also the first woman to serve as the President of Napa Valley College. Serving as the district’s CEO reporting to a seven member locally elected Board, she was directly responsible for the overall leadership, planning, management, and evaluation of Napa Valley College and its programs, services, and operations. As Napa Valley College’s CEO, she was responsible for supervising 750 faculty and staff; administering a budget of $30 million and serving more than 9,000 students.

Dr. Woodruff’s accomplishments at Napa Valley College include building a new Upper Valley Campus, Child Development Center, Community Education Center, Trefethen Family Viticulture Center and Napa Valley Vintners Teaching Winery. She also implemented a comprehensive technology plan (including wiring of campus) and acquired computers for all faculty and staff. Napa Valley College’s technology program was designated as a CISCO regional training academy. In addition, the college’s partnership with New Technology High School was designated as a national model which was replicated by the Gates Foundation. During the years she was Napa Valley College’s CEO; the college received perfect audits and commendations for excellent financial management. She also administered more than $20 million in grants including Title III, Upward Bound, and Talent Search.

Dr. Woodruff was instrumental in starting the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society – which received national and international recognition. The assets of the Foundation tripled under Dr. Woodruff’s presidency. Moreover, Napa Valley Community College District received a California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office commendation for being the second best district in the state for increasing the diversity of faculty and staff for the ten years that she served as president.

At the time of her retirement from Napa Valley College, a Napa Valley Register editorial stated that Dr. Woodruff “leaves Napa Valley College in better shape than when she took over as president…” and concluded: “She will be best remembered for bringing out the best in people – in students, faculty, administrators and community supporters. Her programs set a standard for the college. Her personal leadership set a standard for the community.” Robert Pecota, a Calistoga vinter and Vice President of the Napa Valley College Foundation was quoted in the Napa Valley Register on January 18, 2001 as saying “She is one of the finest administrators and community college leaders I have ever met. Her departure is a gain for someone else in Sacramento, a loss for the Napa Valley.”

Prior to serving as Napa Valley College’s CEO, Dr. Woodruff was its Vice President, Instruction and Student Services for four years. Before relocating to Napa, she served as Dean of Sacramento City College’s Social Sciences Division, Director of Los Rios Community College District’s Economic Development, Associate Director of the district’s Educational Services, and Specialist in the Chancellor’s Office. She was also a faculty member at American River College and Sierra College.

Dr. Woodruff received her Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees at the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California with a double major in Educational Administration and Curriculum and Instruction. She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the California Legislature’s Woman of the Year Award and the Shirley B. Gordon International Award of Distinction for Community College Presidents. In addition, the college named a street at the college “Diane Woodruff Way” for her “tenacious belief in the power of education for at-risk youth and her passionate and heartfelt plea which convinced the Napa Valley Wine Auction to award its generous grant, fulfilling the dream of a teaching winery on the Napa Valley College campus.” Dr. Woodruff is also an active member of the Sacramento Rotary Club and numerous community services organizations. She is personally mentoring 2 Latina students in the 7th and 10th grades in Sacramento to make sure they graduate from high school and go on to college.