La Voz Weekly: How are you dealing with budget cuts?

Ron McFarland: I want to keep in touch with my staff and students and bring a sense of calmness and compassion to the whole situation. I understand that it is hard and people are struggling.

LV: What do you like about working at De Anza?

RM: I love the people I am working with. Community colleges have the right focus in this economic situation: easy access to education and the flexibility to change the curriculum as the economy demands. I like the vibrant sea of the students engaged in things, students seem very attentive to their studies.

The student body is more social and active than other campuses.

LV: What about your own education?

RM: [I hold a] Bachelor’s from Arizona State University [and ] three master’s degrees from University of New Mexico.

LV: What do you feel is your biggest challenge?

RM: The biggest challenge outside of the budget issues are that educational institutions need to become more flexible and allow more options for students, [such as] offering classes through different modes of learning, [and] a different mixture of how and where classes are offered.

LV: What are some of your hobbies?

RM: Finger-style guitar, a bit like classical and Celtic guitar, I started playing when I was 13. I don’t play in a band, I just play solo. I have performed at Silco Theater and other places. I am an ardent reader; I read a lot of leadership, business, technology and spiritual books. I can’t wait to get my biking and hiking going again. I’m into all kind of music. I love classical music, operas, musicals, anything really to do with the performing arts. I love instrumental music as well. If a performance includes music and performance I will be there, I am planning to go watch “Wicked” soon. I am also going to attend the symphony and the Eagles, but I’m just getting started. Scuba diving, I love it.

My favorite musical is “Mamma Mia,” I didn’t like the ABBA when it was initially out, but the musical was really well done.

LV: What are some jobs you have held in the past?

RM: Taught full time and part time as a computer science and MIS teacher at WNMU, NAU, UCLA, UMUC, among other schools for over 25 years.

LV: What are your specialties?

RM: Database design and development, project managment, professional information systems trainer.