The interim vice president of instruction at College of the Desert stepped down three months before her contract was set to expire amid “a period of leadership transition” at the local community college.

Misty Burruel’s resignation became “effective immediately” on April 2, though her contract was scheduled to run through June 30. The reason for her early departure has not been disclosed.

While the college continues its search for a permanent vice president of instruction with a hire expected by the end of June, acting Superintendent/President Val Martinez Garcia will oversee instructional operations in the interim, according to an email Martinez Garcia sent the COD community on April 2.

“We recognize that College of the Desert is experiencing a period of leadership transition. While change can present challenges, I want to assure you that our students remain our institutional priority,” he wrote.

Martinez Garcia, who joined COD in early 2023 as the vice president of instruction, most recently held the role of vice president of student services before being appointed acting superintendent. Burruel’s hiring enabled Martinez Garcia to focus entirely on his role as vice president of student services after Jeff Baker’s resignation from COD, which followed a $600,000 settlement in a retaliation lawsuit.

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