Butte College
News Announcement

Butte College Selects New Vice President of Instruction

After an extensive search, Butte College has selected Erik Shearer as its new vice president of instruction and accreditation liaison officer. The Butte College Board of Trustees approved his appointment at its April 12 meeting. 

Shearer is an experienced, equity-minded leader in education with a long career in the California Community College system who knows firsthand the transformative power of California Community Colleges. After leaving high school early, he began his higher ed journey at Napa Valley College in 1989. He earned his BA in Art from Sonoma State University in 1996 and his Master of Fine Arts, with a concentration in painting and drawing, from the University of Oregon in 2000.

After earning his MFA, Shearer took his first teaching job at Napa Valley College. He had a concrete plan then -- teach at Napa for two years and move on to a "rockstar career" as an art professor at a major university. However, what he found when he stepped back into the classroom of his alma mater was "the entire panoply of California that's inside of each community college classroom and the profound, life-changing work that happens in those classrooms." After that experience, he realized he truly wanted to be of service to those students.   

Shearer spent 22 years at Napa Valley College, where he held several positions, including tenured faculty member in the Visual Arts department, Academic Senate president, division chair and assistant superintendent/vice president of academic affairs. Beyond his college-level service, he has extensive experience working at the state level in the California Community College system through the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges and the CCC Chancellor's Office. He served on and led statewide committees, task forces, and work groups and directed complex statewide initiatives, including the C-ID project. Shearer has served on the California Community College Curriculum Committee for ten years, including one year as the committee co-chair.

"Butte College is thrilled to have Erik Shearer join its leadership team.  Erik has an impressive portfolio of experiences and is a tireless advocate for higher education who centers equity in everything he does, " said Butte College Superintendent/President Virginia L. Guleff. "He has spent his career working to improve and refine regulations and guidance to enhance colleges' ability to serve their students. His expertise and leadership will help move Butte College forward as we work to improve processes and rebuild enrollment."

“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the next vice president of instruction at Butte College,” said Shearer. “Getting to know and work with the dedicated educators, staff, and students at Butte College over the past year as Interim Vice President has been the highlight of my career. As I assume this new role, I am eager to continue building upon the college's remarkable reputation for excellence and fostering even stronger relationships with the diverse communities we are privileged to serve.”

Shearer currently serves as Butte College's interim vice president of instruction. He will assume the role permanently on May 1, 2023.

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