Dr. James M. Limbaugh, who formerly held posts in Montana, Texas and Maryland, has been selected president of West Los Angeles College. He succeeds Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, who held the office for four years, until June of last year when he accepted a position in San Diego.
Most recently, Dr. Limbaugh served as interim president at Oxnard College in the Ventura Community College District, where he was recognized for:
- Growing student enrollments and institutional planning,
- For initiating student success initiatives,
- For engaging in effective community outreach and partnerships, and
- For acquiring additional resources for Oxnard College.
Dr. Limbaugh replaces West’s interim president Robert Sprague, a 25-year veteran who will return to his long-term post as the vice president of Academic Affairs.
Before Oxnard, Dr. Limbaugh’s experiences in higher education included serving as the chancellor of Montana State University-Northern as well as leadership positions at Angelo State University in Texas and Frostburg State University in Maryland.
“It is an honor,” the new president said at a reception, “to have been selected to lead this institution. West is on a significant forward trajectory.”
He cited West’s growing enrollment, the addition of a bachelor’s degree, and a positive review by the accreditation team.
Dr. Limbaugh promised to solicit advice.
“My job is to listen first and to partner with you all to keep this great momentum going,” he said.
The president said he was interest in getting to know the college’s community partners and leaders and its political representatives as soon as possible.
Dr. Limbaugh has spent his entire career working in higher education including working in custodial services to pay his way through college.
“I became especially interested in community colleges while at Montana State-Northern, which offered both associate and bachelor’s degree programs,” he said.
“I could see the immediate impact two-year programs have on peoples’ lives and the community.”
Dr. Limbaugh said he wanted to join the California community college system “because of its reputation for innovative programs and curriculum that focuses on student success.”
Ms. Long-Coffee may be contacted at longcofm@wlac.edu
