SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – President Jeff DeFranco, who has been at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) since 2012, announced he would be leaving his position at the end of the academic school year. “I bleed Coyote blood through and through… and this has been the opportunity of a lifetime. This next door has opened, and you’ve got to follow that calling.”
This college address happened later in the year than is typical, and was titled “Reflecting on Our Success.” DeFranco recounted how he had dreamed of being a college president and living in Tahoe, and that coming to LTCC was a combined dream come true. “You could see the campus was full of possibilities. It was a hidden gem,” he said, remembering how it felt to come to the campus in 2012.
DeFranco spoke on the challenges that the college had faced: the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caldor Fire and “Snowmageddon” of 2023. However, since he took on the title of president 10 years ago, the college has since increased its full time students 40%, staff by 43% and annual revenue by 140%.
“This is a pillar of the south shore community,” said DeFranco. He cited the many programs that the college offered, with special emphasis on the California Promise program, which aims to make college affordable for all students.
Looking to the future, DeFranco highlighted that they planned a groundbreaking ceremony in May for the Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training complex, with construction beginning this summer.
The college also will be strengthening its partnerships with 4-year universities, with candidates of Arizona State University, Chico State and University of Nevada, Reno. For Arizona State University, LTCC could be joining its pilot program for California. For Chico State, they plan to potentially bring the business and psychology programs there to the university center at LTCC. And for the University of Nevada, Reno, they anticipate looking at nursing programs and possibly reserving spaces in their programs. All of these partnerships would allow students to potentially pursue education at those universities while staying in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
DeFranco envisioned that LTCC could look at offering a bachelor’s degree program sometime in the future. He also said he had envisioned more off-campus housing and expanding their sports programs, especially with women’s sports and adding new facilities such as a track and pickleball courts.
At the end of his reflection, DeFranco likened his time at the university to being in a marathon. “I’ve always been a sprinter, and I always talk about sprinting past the finish line. It’s time to pass the baton now and for someone else to take the lead.”
DeFranco will be working with Arizona State University to support their provost, and said he was looking forward to being part of a team there, but will still be based in South Lake Tahoe with his family.
“This has been the honor of a lifetime,” said DeFranco, to a standing ovation.
Both DeFranco and Tony Sears, on behalf of the board of trustees, assured the attendees that there would be continuity, as DeFranco had informed them of his decision beforehand. DeFranco will stay in the summer to celebrate the graduates of this year, and the board plans to appoint an interim superintendent and president. They anticipate having a permanent president in place by summer of 2027.
The announcement came as a surprise to nearly everyone. Several people said it was a “shocker” and hoped that DeFranco would still come around to campus. It was an emotional time for many, some who shed tears at the announcement.
One attendee said, “Just looking back at all he’s done, he’s definitely earned it.”
