San Diego Continuing Education Announces Permanent Vice President of Instruction, Michelle Fischthal
Michelle Fischthal speaks at the grand opening of SDCE’s North City Campus in San Diego
SAN DIEGO—Michelle Fischthal will serve as the Vice President of Instruction (VPI) at San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) Effective February 1, 2018, pending approval by the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) Board of Trustees in January.
“The Office of Instruction is critical to the function and growth of SDCE programming,” said Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Ph.D., President of SDCE. “Ms. Fischthal’s education and experience have prepared her well for this opportunity.”
The VPI represents SDCE and SDCCD at the local, state, and national levels in organizations and activities that improve, promote, and publicize instructional and instructional support programs; Ms. Fischthal currently represents SDCE and noncredit on multiple statewide advisory committees. Additionally, the VPI plans and evaluates the curriculum and instructional programs and provides leadership in developing the enrollment growth plan for the institution.
Currently working toward a DBA (Doctorate of Business Administration), from California Southern University, Fischthal has previously earned an M.A. in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego, a Bachelor’s degree in music from The City University of New York, Queens College. She also has a certificate in instructional technology from San Diego State University, and a credential in mediation from the National Conflict Resolution Center.
Fischthal has most recently been serving SDCE as the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, when she coauthored a 2017 Mertes award-winning project with Dr. Turner Cortez, The Past, Present and Future of Noncredit Education in California Community Colleges. Previous to this position, she was SDCE’s Dean of Business and Information Technology where under her leadership faculty doubled the number of programs offered in less than three years.
“Education provides opportunity and increases equity in our communities, and it is my responsibility to ensure that our instructional programs provide these opportunities through accessible, relevant, and quality programming to prepare our students for immediate career and college transition, along with lifelong learning, “ said Fischthal. “My intention is to support faculty in their efforts to continuously improve upon their already high level of teaching excellence.
Fischthal joins the administrative team following a competitive, nationwide search to fill the VPI position that was left vacant earlier this year. Dr. Turner Cortez has been building and expanding SDCE’s permanent leadership team since his arrival in 2015.
SDCE, the largest noncredit institution in the nation opened its doors in 1914. SDCE’s seven campuses located throughout the city of San Diego offer 60 free career certifications and thousands of free classes to more than 40,000 students.
*******************************************************************
San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) is the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District. SDCE was one of the first community college continuing education institutions in California to meet the standards for independent accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. More than 40,000 students are served per academic year at seven main campuses in San Diego. Noncredit classes are available at no cost, including online options.