The leader of Allan Hancock College has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Santa Barbara County Fair Board of Directors.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office recently announced that the college’s superintendent/president, Kevin Walthers, will join the board for the 37th District Agricultural Association, which oversees the Santa Barbara County Fair at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

Walthers has led Allan Hancock College since 2013.

He previously was the president of Las Positas College from 2011 to 2013, vice chancellor for administration for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission from 2009 to 2011, and vice president for finance and administration at Utah State University-Eastern from 2006 to 2010.

Serving on the fair board will be among the latest community slots for Walthers. 

He is a member of the Santa Maria Valley and Solvang chambers of commerce, the California Nature Art Museum, the Marian Regional Medical Center board, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley and the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club.

The 37th District Agricultural Association has a nine-person board, with members appointed by the governor to serve for at least four years. 

The organization, which has been without an executive director for several months, is home to the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival in late April and the Santa Barbara County Fair in early July.