gARY L. POERTNER Gary L. Poertner was appointed Chancellor of the South Orange County Community College District beginning December 1, 2010. He spent 11 years of dedicated service as Deputy Chancellor for the district, providing leadership in all business operations including fiscal services, payroll, accounting, purchasing, and facilities planning.  For many years he supervised the operations of human resources and information technology and provided development oversight for the district’s newest campus, the Advanced Technology and Education Park in Tustin.

Under his leadership, South Orange County Community College District was one of the first districts in the state to fully fund its retiree liability. He has over 40 years experience as an administrator in California public schools such as College of the Redwoods, El Camino College, and the Shasta Union High School District. He holds a B.S. in Commerce from St. Louis University and a MBA from California State University, Long Beach.

The chancellor oversees 2,600 employees and 43,000 students at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Irvine Valley College in Irvine, and the Advanced Technology and Education Park (ATEP) in Tustin. He supervises an annual budget of more than $486 million.

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