John Grindel has recently been getting ready to take on all the obstacles of what being a leader really means.

Perhaps a bit nervous at first, the new Cerritos College president notes that “one is always apprehensive when taking on a new position, but I’m quite confident on my ability to deal with the challenges.”

Both of Grindel’s administrative assistants agree that he will bring “a wealth of knowledge,” to Cerritos College.

“I hope he will bring leadership, stability and a strong focus on student success. It’s nice to have a president that really leads an institution, that people look up to. We’ve had three to four presidents in the last three years, it’s good to know that he’ll still be here tomorrow. He’ll look for what’s best for the college, staff and students,” notes Chi-Chung Keung, director of Marketing and Public Relations.

Grindel acknowledges that he receives an enormous amount of support from the administration, which he feels helps him move forward in his new and strenuous position.

“My first role as a leader, I was relatively young and I didn’t understand the dynamics of leadership. Real leadership means listening and hearing other people’s ideas and trying to integrate that with your own vision,” Grindel said.

The biggest satisfaction on the job so far has been “the expressions of support from so many people across the campus, and I need that,” he added.

Grindel has a very prestigious educational background. A graduate degree in Linguistics, another degree in Theology, which he received from the Gregorian University of Rome, Italy, and the experience of teaching at a graduate level for 10 years, are only some of the general aspects of his education.

In 1995, Grindel joined the Cerritos College district administration as the Director of Development. Four years ago he became the Executive Dean of Information Technology, and just last year he was appointed vice president of Academic Affairs. Upon the resignation of recent President Jane M. Harmon, did he finally reach the interim position of president himself.

His main goal and focus for Cerritos College is “Student success, that’s what we’re here for.” He believes that in order to enhance the whole culture of student success, we must start by developing a more comprehensive and integrating skills program.

“Community colleges are taking more and more of a lead in higher education because of their ability to adapt to the needs of society. We play an important role because we offer very good and affordable education,” observed Grindel.

All in all, Grindel gets a good opportunity himself, which, as he puts it, would be to “work with a broad range of people, to help people come together, to formulate their goals and lead them into a good direction.”