Citrus College superintendent/president announces retirement

Citrus College Superintendent/President Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D., will retire on July 1, 2021. Although she first shared the news with the college community in December 2020,

Superintendent/President Perri’s retirement plans were made official during the January 19, 2021, meeting of the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees.

“It has been an honor to be a part of the Citrus College community for the past 13 years. Together, we have established Citrus College as a state and national leader in higher education,”

Superintendent/President Perri said. “As the college prepares for this next chapter, I am confident that countless more lives will be improved through the power of education.”

When Superintendent/President Perri stepped into her role in July 2008, she became the first woman and the seventh superintendent/president in Citrus College history. A dedicated educator with extensive experience in community college administration, she was well?equipped for her role as the college’s chief executive.

Since that time, an impressive body of work has been accomplished under Ms. Perri’s leadership. From tackling the objectives established by three strategic plans to successfully navigating several accreditation cycles, the college worked to meet the evolving needs of its students and surrounding communities. One way it has done so is through the College of Completion initiative.

Launched in response to a White House mandate challenging the nation’s colleges to increase graduation rates, College of Completion employs a number of strategies that support students in their pursuit of higher education and lead to degree completion and transfer.

From the beginning, relationship building was a priority for Superintendent/President Perri.

During her tenure, Citrus College’s ties to the community were strengthened through campus tours, special events, informative presentations and more. Outreach to elected officials, local educators, business and industry leaders, and prospective students and their parents allowed the college to engage with the community in a manner that was both meaningful and mutually beneficial.

The Citrus College Foundation played a significant role in increasing the college’s community

engagement. An active presence within the Foundation, Ms. Perri worked with the organization’s executive board members and supporters to spread the word about Citrus College and advance the goals of its students. Since Superintendent/President Perri has been at the helm of Citrus College, the Foundation’s financial holdings have hit a new benchmark, increasing to over $11 million in the fall of 2020.

In addition, the Foundation spearheaded the Citrus College centennial celebration, received the largest endowment in the college’s history and established the President’s Circle, which funded College of Completion initiatives and secured major funding for the Citrus College Promise program.

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