Ed Knudson, president of Student Services, served his last day at Bakersfield College on Thursday, April 30.

Knudson has been an employee at Bakersfield College since Jan. 1, 2002 and said that he doesn’t know who is going to replace him, but he hopes that whoever it is will help to give worth to work he has at done at BC.

“I took this new job because it reflects professional growth and new and exciting learning challenges for me,” Knudson said.

Knudson was honored for his time at BC with a continental breakfast with administrators and staff in his working area and lunch with staff and faculty in the horticulture lab area. He has been getting personal visits all week from his fellow co-workers.

“The thing I think I will miss most about BC is the people that I have worked with over the years,” Knudson said.

Knudson’s new job is executive vice president at Moorpark College in the Ventura County College District. This position is a combination of vice president of academic affairs and vice president of student services.

Knudsen said it was a “wonderful opportunity” to have worked at BC, and he is very proud to have been a part of the BC staff.

“I have been given the opportunity to grow and develop in ways I did not imagine,” Knudsen said. “And the opportunity to be of service to the college community and the city of Bakersfield has been truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

Knudson said he is very fortunate to have special people in his life who support him and his decision to leave BC.

There are other administrators making changes. Doris Givens has been hired as the new vice chancellor of educational services, effective Sept. 1. For the past eight months, Givens has been the interim vice chancellor of educational services. She has over 30 years of experience in community colleges in many different positions. Givens was dean at Palomar College from 1992 to 2000, president of Spokane Community College from June 2000 to 2003 and interim president of for both Los Angeles City College and West Los Angeles College.