Following an extensive search, James L. Dunkelman has been named vice president of finance and administration at Whittier College, effective December 1. Dunkelman replaces long-time College administrator Janice Legoza.
"We are pleased to welcome Jim Dunkelman to Whittier College. Jim has considerable experience and leadership in finance and administration. His most recent position, navigating and negotiating between the seven institutions that comprise the Claremont Colleges, speaks directly to the collaborative approach Whittier College espouses and will be an invaluable asset to our leadership team," said Whittier President Sharon Herzberger. "In addition, I am confident that Jim's successful history of strong client focus will further build on the great community partnerships and good work accomplished by the outgoing vice president, Janice Legoza."
Dunkelman comes to Whittier from nearby Claremont, where he served for 16 years in successive roles—including vice president and treasurer, controller, and director of financial services—for the Claremont University Consortium, the management organization that provides 29 coordinated services for the consortium's five undergraduate and two graduate institutions.
Formerly with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand, where he served in the higher education, manufacturing, and petroleum industry groups, Dunkelman received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from California State University, Los Angeles. He is a certified public accountant in the State of California, holds active membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and has taught university accounting courses for the Western Association of College and University Business Officers.
His predecessor Legoza has an impressive record of accomplishments, which includes the interim presidency (2004-2005), management of such critical, capital projects as the new Campus Center and Rose Hill Center for Library and Information Services, and sound financial leadership for both Whittier Law School and Whittier College through the last decade, resulting in a doubling of the endowment, securing of a bond issue to purchase the law school and seed the Campus Center project, and the continued health of the Whittier portfolio, despite unanticipated economic downturns.
Founded by Quakers in 1887, Whittier College is an independent, four-year college offering a traditional liberal arts program integrated with both professional and pre-professional courses of study. With an emphasis on diversity, community, and curricular innovation, the College's primary mission is to endow students with the education, skills, and values appropriate for global leadership and service. Whittier College is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HIS and a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
Whittier Law School, which is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools, is located on a separate campus in Orange County.
