LBCC alumna Dr. Dianne Van Hook is starting her 30th year as the CEO of the Santa Clarita Community College District. When hired in 1988 at age 37, she was then the youngest individual ever appointed as a California Community College CEO and was one of only five women to serve as a district-level CEO at that time.

At College of the Canyons, Dr. Van Hook has provided the vision, energy, commitment, flexibility and courageous leadership style needed to expand the district’s revenue base, hire talented faculty and staff and develop plans to expand instructional programs.

She has served on more than 35 statewide commissions and boards and currently sits on the Economic Development Program Advisory Committee at the state level. Additionally, she has served as the president on several major statewide organizations including CEOs of the California Community Colleges, Community College League of California Board of Directors, and Association of California Community College Administrators.

Dr. Van Hook has been honored to be inducted into the LBCC Alumni Hall of Fame, was named Distinguished Alumna from CSULB, and was distinguished as one of the University of La Verne’s top 75 graduates.

And who were Dr. Van Hook’s LBCC mentors? Dr. Charles Kane. Dr. Beverly O’Neill. And, yes, Mr. Roger Van Hook, her LBCC speech professor (who is remembered fondly by generations of alumni) whom she married after graduating from CSULB. They all encouraged her to believe in herself, to dream big, to work hard, to never give up.