FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The first minority president of Broward Community College abruptly resigned this week after less than three years on the job. Larry Calderón announced a day later that he will join Nova Southeastern University as vice president of community and governmental affairs.
“I am extremely excited and honored to have the opportunity to be welcomed to a higher education institution of Nova Southeastern’s stature,” Calderón, 56, said in a statement reported by The Miami Herald. “It is a particularly compelling position because it will afford me the opportunity to continue to develop partnerships between such a distinguished institution as NSU and community colleges.”
Calderon, 56, said a poor relationship with two members of the Board of Trustees was the reason for his decision, announced Wednesday during the board’s monthly meeting.
“It is increasingly obvious that I do not have the unqualified and unconditional support of the entire board,” Calderon said in a statement. “I believe that full board support is vital to any President in realizing BCC’s promising future.”
He declined to name the two board members, but said his relationship with them was good until April when they “started getting involved in trying to run the administrative structure of the organization.”
Calderon said he was frustrated earlier this year by stalled contract negotiations between union faculty members and board members.
Levi Williams, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said he was surprised by Calderon’s announcement.
“Mr. Calderon has a lot of strong leadership qualities,” Levi said, but “there was some concern that individual board members might have had with Mr. Calderon.”
Calderon’s last day will be Dec. 19, two months before the end of his $210,105 contract.
Earlier this year, the board awarded Calderon a 3.5 percent raise and a one-year contract extension. During his tenure, BCC created an Education Master Plan, a long-range blueprint for the college’s growth. It also opened the Weston Education Center and formed the Miramar Automotive Technology Program.
Before coming to BCC, Calderon was president for nine years at Ventura College near Los Angeles.
–Associated Press
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