Monterey Peninsula College has a new leader overseeing student services and athletics after naming Karen Lee Yoder to the dean's post, the college announced Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Yoder brings more than three decades of experience in academic administration, kinesiology and athletic program leadership. She most recently served as athletic director at Solano College, where she oversaw intercollegiate athletics and worked on student services alignment and academic support.
Before that, she served as director of athletics and physical education at California State University Maritime Academy, known as Cal Maritime. There she sat on the president's cabinet, managed a $2.5 million budget supporting academic and student programs and partnered with the university's advancement office to secure $1.5 million for student success initiatives and facilities.
The budget work stands out.
Yoder also serves as commissioner of the Western State Conference, a California Community College Athletic Association affiliate established in 1950. The conference is the oldest community college athletic conference in California, according to the 3C2A sports website.
Yoder said she chose MPC because of its focus on student success, calling herself "honored to be part of an organization that places students front and center."
The hire is one of several dean appointments at MPC during the 2026-27 academic year. The college's governing board agenda for its Aug. 26 meeting listed Yoder's employment agreement as an action item alongside new deans of instruction in career education, public safety and allied health/nursing, STEM, and visual and performing arts. All five board trustees were present at that meeting: Rosalyn Green, Libby Downey, Anita Crawley, Celia Barberena and Yuri Anderson.
Yoder holds a master of science in kinesiology from California State University, East Bay.
Wendy Bates held the title of Dean of Student Services for Athletics and Health Services as of June 1, according to a college announcement about the football program. MPC's superintendent/president is Dr. Marshall T. Fulbright III.
The college has not announced a specific start date for Yoder or whether she will continue serving as Western State Conference commissioner while in the dean role.
