Frances Squire Named New Executive Director of West Hills College Foundation

For Immediate Release Contact: Frances Squire March 26 , 2010 Phone: (559) 934-2134 or 250-6389

Frances Squire named new executive director of West Hills College Foundation

Frances Squire, who has served as director of marketing for West Hills Community College District for the last nine years, will take on additional duties as executive director of the district’s foundation effective immediately. “Frances grew up in Corcoran and has spent her entire career in Fresno and Kings counties. She knows our district, and our communities, and she will be an effective advocate for our colleges and their students,” Chancellor Frank Gornick said in making the announcement. “With a strong background in agriculture, the utility industry and small business,” she is poised to reach out to our community leaders in seeking philanthropic support for the district and for scholarships for our students,” he added. Squire is replacing Dr. Rick Post, a retired dean from College of the Desert, who served as interim executive director for the past year. A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in journalism, Squire is responsible for the advertising, marketing and public information campaigns that helped fuel 20 percent growth in the district between 2001 and 2009. Her stories about the district and her photographs frequently appear in local newspapers and they have also been picked up in a number of regional and national publications. “My husband (Ed Wilson) is a graduate of West Hills,” Squire said, “and I know personally the challenges that many of our students face. Community members and college employees have helped West Hills College students achieve success for almost 80 years. “I look forward to continuing to tell the story of the difference we make in the lives of our students and to reaching out to the community to help garner support for them—especially during these very difficult economic times.” In addition to her work at West Hills, Squire, who holds a master’s degree from Fresno State in education administration, is noted for serving as the spokesperson in the San Joaquin Valley for PG&E for many years. A self-described community activist, she has been president of a number of non-profit organizations including the local chapter of California Women for Agriculture, Children’s Services Network and the Corcoran Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves on the board of the Coalinga Enterprise Community. # # #

West Hills Community College District serves the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and is part of the California Community College System. Its two colleges, West Hills College Coalinga, which includes North District Center, Firebaugh, and West Hills College Lemoore, serve more than 7,000 students on campus and online each semester.