Karen Sisson, Pomona Alum and City Government Official, Named Pomona VP and Treasurer

Pomona has released a press release naming Karen Sisson, formerly L.A.'s Chief Administrative Officer, as VP and Treasurer effective July 1, 2008.

Here's a paragraph examining what she'll be doing at Pomona.

A 1979 Pomona graduate, Sisson will become the College's chief financial and investment officer, responsible for managing an annual operating budget of more than $130 million and an endowment of more than $1.7 billion, as well as overseeing such functions as human resources, campus planning/construction and property management. She will take on the role at a time when Pomona, one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges, is preparing to carry out an ambitious strategic plan involving major capital projects, including a new arts district and dormitories.

Pomona is quite pleased with its former student and has given her an ambitious task.

My main question: God knows I'm no finance guru, but does Pomona really want to entrust that task to someone who managed the City of Los Angeles into a $155 million deficit?

(I guess when you're jugging around with a $7 billion dollar budget, $155mil is chump change.)

Naturally Sisson had a series of recommendations to reduce the shortfall by $117 million, "including the sale of three former animal shelters and a delay in the construction of police and fire stations."

Police and fire stations!?!!

Well if California ever catches ablaze again and Los Angeles ever riots, we can count on the Terminator to save us. Of course we Los Angeles County dwellers never have to worry about fire or riots.

Cheer up. At least maybe the dogs might find good homes now.