Additional Information:Norbert TanPrior to Ventura College, Tan served as the Managing Director of Rubicon Theatre Company, the region’s award-winning, non-profit, professional producing theatre company. He oversaw the organization’s $3.5 million annual budget. Prior to Rubicon, Tan was an Arts Management Fellow at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. He managed International Management Group’s Arts & Entertainment Division in Hong Kong. At IMG, he produced and promoted Asia-region tours of major international artists and performing groups. Tan has also consulted for various non-profit arts organizations in the Southern California area and served on panels for both the City of Los Angeles and the City of Ventura’s Cultural Affairs Departments. He was recently recognized as one of 40 executive leaders under the age of 40 in the tri-county region by the Pacific Coast Business Times’ “40-under-40” special edition. He also was named one of the “Top 5 People to Watch in 2005” by the Ventura County Star. Mr. Tan earned his MBA in Arts Management from the Anderson School at UCLA, and his BS in Business Administration from UC Berkeley.Ventura College PromiseVentura College is offering a first-year enrollment fee waiver for any recent county high school graduate. The Promise is open to 2006-2007 high school graduates; students who have completed high school course work but have yet to pass the High School Exit Exam; and those earning their GED in the 2006-2007 academic year. To qualify, a student must identify an educational goal, take the college’s assessment examination, work with a counselor to develop an educational plan, and complete an application for federal student aid. There is no minimum or maximum number of units that must be taken, or minimum grade-point average or assessment score that must be met. Students may utilize the Promise for three consecutive semesters, and have up to 12 months post-graduation to embark on their Ventura College education.
New executive director for Ventura College Foundation
March 21, 2007
Santa Paula News
Norbert Tan has been recruited to run the Ventura College Foundation as its new Executive Director.
Norbert Tan has been recruited to run the Ventura College Foundation as its new Executive Director. Tan recently served as Managing Director of Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, where he successfully grew the professional theatre company to artistic and organizational prominence in the region. He came to Ventura four years ago from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.“Norbert brings a wealth of experience and energy to campus, and we look forward to his focus on building the support organization of Ventura College,” said Dr. Robin Calote, president of Ventura College.The Ventura College Foundation is charged to enhance the Ventura College student educational experience through development activities that provide scholarships to students, grants to staff, and funds for special college initiatives. Tan has also been asked to chair the Ventura College taskforce to create a world-class Arts & Lectures series on campus to further engage members of the Ventura County community.One of Tan’s first priorities will be to launch the Ventura College Promise, a grant program that funds the enrollment fees for any Ventura County high school graduate’s first year studies at Ventura College. Says Tan, “One of Ventura College’s goals is to ensure that all high school graduates, including those facing economic hardship, have the opportunity to attend college. This goal inspired the Ventura College Foundation to create the Ventura College Promise, a program designed to remove the economic barriers to education.”Tom Anthony, Ventura College Foundation’s Board President, explains: “The Foundation is partnering with community sponsors to underwrite the Ventura College Promise for the first two years. Outside funding is needed to create an endowment large enough so that the earnings can continue to fund the program in perpetuity. Community support will ensure that this vital program continues for generations to come.”Dr. Calote added, “The foundation has set aside $500,000 for seed money for the first two years and we’re not limiting recipients to just low-income students because there are already programs in place to help them. We wanted to make this program as inclusive as possible.”
