I feel like I’m about to hike up a mountain and I know that the view from the top will be spectacular,” said Pat Keir, the new president of Miramar College, conveying not only enthusiasm for her new leadership role at the college, but also her love of the outdoors. This fitness fanatic, who enjoys walking, jogging, aerobics and “anything outdoors,” is planning to use her high energy to help Miramar attain its goals of growth in facilities, instructional programs, industry partnerships and enrollment.

“There’s such potential here,” says Keir. “I’d been in the presidential search process for a while, but when the opportunity to come to Miramar appeared, I knew it was a perfect fit. The college is poised on the brink of great development and, as a person with a real entrepreneural spirit, I knew this was meant for me–the right place at the right time. The people here at Miramar are talented, eager to build the college and, most important, focused on student success. An added plus was joining the San Diego Community College District, which enjoys a well respected reputation across the nation.”

Keir, who was previously executive vice president and provost at Lansing Community College in Michigan, packed her bags, sold her house and hopped on a plane for sunny San Diego, leaving behind her two adult daughters, who are both pursuing careers in higher education, one as faculty member at a community college in Chicago, the other as a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Keir came to Miramar well trained and well prepared for her new adventure, having earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a master in arts and teaching from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, a master’s in education from Wayne State University and a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University. Her responsibiliites at Lansing included supervising the finances, human resources and the academics for an institution of 21,000 students in a large city.

Keir’s self-stated style is one of collaboration and traditional management-by-objective. Planning and quantifying successes and progress toward goals are important, as is staying flexible along the way.

Keir has already launched a strategic planning process that includes all segments of the college community and will result in a blueprint for the future, which could result in strategies to build out the physical campus, focus on workforce development, and increase business/industry and high school partnerships.

“We must listen to the communities and businesses we serve to hear what they want of their community college,” said Keir.

How does Keir feel just months after arriving in San Diego from Lansing, Michigan, with only three suitcases to her name and not knowing a soul in town? “I love it!” she exclaims. “The community and campus are easy going, casual and extremely welcoming. And, of course, there’s the wonderful outdoors! I think I’ve already hiked 70 percent of every trail and beach in San Diego.”

Pat Keir walks around Miramar Lake near the campus. Keir invites her managers to join her on a walk Friday afternoons.