Julie Ledford named CC Vice President of Human Resources
Posted: 10/5/2011
Julie Ledford, a private practice attorney who has been living and working in Southern California for the past seven years, will become Centralia College’s vice president for Human Resources and Legal Affairs.
Ledford, 29, who was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, takes the college post formerly held by Chris Bailey, who is now the president of Lower Columbia College in Longview. Her first day is Oct. 14.
“This is an important position, one that requires not only legal expertise but needs someone with strong people skills. We’ve conducted an exhaustive search and I know that Julie will do a great job for the college. She has leadership skills that are essential for this position,” Dr. Jim Walton, college president, said.
Ledford holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, Calif. During the past four years, Ledford worked in civil litigation. Her experience includes work on environmental cases, insurance and general business litigation, breach of contract, and general liability defense matters.
“I loved the small, college-town feeling of WSU and I feel Centralia has that same feeling. It is a close-knit community where everyone’s goal is to serve the students and provide them with a quality education. That mission is personally important to me. I have been lucky to receive an education and helping other people achieve their goals through education will be truly rewarding,” Ledford said.
She admits that getting up to speed will be a challenge. As she does, she wants to continue the positive, supportive role her office has on campus.
One of the appeals of Centralia College, she said, is that “you get to know the people who are part of the college. You are able to learn what their goals and visions are and help to make those dreams become a reality.”
Ledford will be coming to the college as it braces for yet another round of budget cuts.
“I expect the continued budget cuts the school, and the state as a whole, are facing will cause some real challenges for everyone at the college,” she said.
Another front-burner issue will be supporting the college’s efforts to add diversity.
“There are exciting events on campus that have helped to further this goal and hopefully those events can carry on with continued success. I plan on working with others on campus to determine ways in which we can help make Centralia College an attractive place to help grow diversity and expand its reach,” said Ledford.
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