David Wain Coon, De Anza College’s new interim president, talked about his challenges transitioning to De Anza, main goals during his presidency and values regarding student success.
He began his role remotely on May 4 and started in person on May 11.
Coon retired from College of Marin in January 2024, where he was president for 18 and a half years. He plans to work at De Anza only until the district finds a permanent president.
Q: What has been the biggest challenge for you in regards to transitioning to De Anza?
A: When you come into a new job midyear or almost at the end of the quarter, it’s like walking into a movie and you’ve missed the first three quarters of the movie. You don’t know the cast, you don’t know the plot — it’s a little bit like a fast, moving train.
Q: What drew you to De Anza specifically?
A: I always tell people, when somebody comes out of retirement to help in a transition, it’s either to pay back or to pay forward. For me, it’s a combination of both. There’s probably only five (colleges) I would consider actually doing this for, and this (De Anza) was at the top of the list, (with) the long reputation of excellence and students transferring.
Q: What are your main priorities and goals coming into the presidency?
A: I’m here to support the leadership team that’s already in place. I’m here to help continue to move forward and get the academic year wrapped up, and to celebrate all the students and have a great commencement.
Q: What has mainly shaped your style of leadership regarding presidency?
A: I was in student services; I was vice president of student affairs, so that experience has really grounded me. Knowing to be focused on students and student success, making sure we’re serving students to the best of our ability and serving the community. I got into this profession to help students.
Q: What led you to want to pursue a career in higher education?
A: I was a freshman at Central Washington University and I needed a job. In one of the general orientation sessions, they were hiring undergrad students to be peer advisors, so I did that for my whole four years. Then I worked as a Dean’s assistant in the dorms and that was really it. I was a college administrator from the time I was 26 until today.
Q: What do you want students to know most about you?
A: That I care, that I’m approachable. I’m responsive.
Q: Is there anything you’re especially excited for during your time here?
A: The reason I’m here is to give back and help the college hopefully find somebody who’s as passionate about the students as I am. Higher education is a business. You’ve got to run it like a business.
Q: Do you have any ideas of ways that you want to help students become more comfortable with this transition?
A: I will try to get a sense of what students’ priorities are. Typically, I’ll pick four or five things I think students might be interested in hearing about. Whether it’s being on campus or improvements in the cafe, whatever it may be. Then I open it up for questions, and that’s how I find out what’s important to students.
