While College of the Desert faculty consider a possible vote of no confidence against the school s incoming president, Martha Garcia, and the three members of the college s board of trustees who backed her, trustee Ruben Perez is pushing back against accusations he had a conflict of interest.
Perez, the board s vice-chair, voted July 15 alongside trustees Bea Gonzalez and board chair Aurora Wilson to appoint Garcia, the current head of Imperial Valley College. Trustees Fred Jandt and Bonnie Stefan voted no.
Many members of the faculty have expressed dismay that Garcia was chosen over Annebelle Nery, vice president of instruction and acting vice president of student services at College of the Desert.