After five years of leading Moorpark College as its president, Eva Conrad will retire next July.

The Ventura County Community College District's Board of Trustees approved her retirement at its meeting Tuesday.

Conrad's retirement will coincide with that of her husband, Mark Rafter, who is a faculty member in the psychology department at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita.

"Our plans are to live this new phase of our lives with a focus on fun," Conrad said. Part of the enjoyment will be living without the confines of a schedule, "the fun of waking up in the morning and asking What do you want to do today?'" she said in an interview Wednesday.

In 2002, she received the Leadership Award for Administrative Excellence presented by the Association of California Community College Administrators.

Conrad said she is leaving a school that is on solid ground, which she believes will help a good candidate.

"The college is so strong," she said. "We are in good budget times. We have been hiring strong new faculty, our accreditation is in good order."

Colleagues spoke highly of Conrad.

With her departure 11 months away, the College District will be able to hunt for candidates, interview them and hire one by the start of the next academic year.

Community College District Chancellor James Meznek described Conrad as a dedicated professional and trusted adviser.

She is highly regarded "for her absolute commitment to the community college mission, which places students first," Meznek said in a prepared statement. "Dr. Conrad is a professional of the first order."

Conrad came to Moorpark College in 1997, when she was appointed executive vice president. She became the institution's president five years later.

Conrad began her career in education in the classroom. For 18 years she worked as a faculty member in the psychology department at San Bernardino Valley College before moving into administration, where she was rewarded for her work.

Those years in the classroom helped mold Conrad's philosophy as an administrator.

"If you filter everything through the lens of students first,' it makes everything easier," she said.

During her tenure as president, Conrad saw Moorpark College's enrollment grow from about 11,000 students to 14,700.

While she credits the enrollment growth to the area's increasing population, she said the college has advisory groups consisting of employers in order to stay on top of trends.

A report prepared two years ago found that the college had more students transferring to the University of California and California State University systems than other colleges of its size. At the same time, the college found it came up short in offering programs for working adults, an area Conrad has worked to change.

With a year to go, Conrad said, she still has plenty on her plate to keep busy.

The college's accreditation report will soon be due, an educational master plan will soon be under way, and four newly hired deans and numerous new faculty members will need to be trained and introduced to the school's "culture and values."

"This fall marks the beginning of my 11th year at Moorpark College and my 32nd year in California community colleges," Conrad said. "My time at Moorpark College has been excellent — challenging, productive, innovative and fun."