Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson announced her decision to hire a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and eliminate two district leadership positions in a video update posted to Youtube March 1.

The new COO will be responsible for the district’s General Services, Finance and Administration, and Information and Technology departments. The COO will “provid[e] leadership as the Chief Financial Officer for us,” the chancellor said.

As a result of the change, Gilkerson stated, the positions of Vice Chancellor of General Services and Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration will be eliminated.

District spokesperson Mark Johnson confirmed via email that the position of Chief Technology and Information Systems Officer will not be eliminated and will instead report to the new COO.

Gilkerson cited input sought from multiple sources, including reports, outside sources and community feedback as factors in the decision.

She added that the district is in the process of hiring a new Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and a permanent College of Alameda (CoA) President.

According to Johnson, the district will begin its search for a new COO soon after kicking off the CoA President search with a March 11 listening session.

Currently, the position of Interim Deputy Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer is filled by Stephanie Droker, who was named by former Interim Chancellor Jannett Jackson in January of 2022.

Gilkerson took office Jan. 4, about 55 days before the announcement was recorded Feb. 29.

“Part of the last 55 days […] have been spent really focusing on the best plan forward for leadership here at the district office,” Gilkerson said in the announcement.

At a Feb. 13 meeting of the PCCD Board of Trustees, the chancellor announced her decision to put Executive Director of Public Safety, Tim Thomas, on administrative leave. Thomas’ resignation effective May 14 was approved at the following Feb. 27 meeting.

Extensions of several administrators’ employment contracts were also approved at last week’s meeting.

Atheria Smith’s contract was extended to June 30, 2025, not in her present role as Interim Vice Chancellor of General Services, but as the Director of Facilities Planning and Development.

The employment contract of Nathaniel Jones III, Interim Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, was extended to June 30, 2024.

Jones was appointed to the role by the former interim chancellor in 2022, initially to a six-month term. He vacated his seat as College of Alameda President in September 2022 to step into the role.

Smith did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. Jones told The Citizen via email that he supports the chancellor’s restructuring efforts.

“As long as I am here, I will continue to support and assist the district through hard work, strong leadership, and professionalism,” Jones wrote.