Chancellor-select Pimentel has dedicated his
entire career to serving the Central Valley community
Dr. Robert Pimentel begins his term as the new chancellor the West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) Aug. 1 becoming the first Latino to serve as chancellor in the district’s 90-year history.
He succeeds Dr. Kristin Clark whose retirement is effective Aug. 8. Dr. Clark served at West Hills as the Lemoore College president for five-and-a-half years with the past three as the district’s chancellor, guiding the district through significant growth and development.
WHCCD covers nearly 3,500 square miles with colleges in Lemoore and Coalinga, the Firebaugh Center, plus several child development centers and district facilities. In the academic year of 2022-23, it served more then 9,500 students, nearly 70 percent Hispanic, according to its website.
A valley native, Chancellor-select Pimentel has dedicated his entire career to serving the Central Valley community including the past two years as the president of Fresno City College, the largest community college CVHEC’s nine-county region.
He was selected by the WHCCD Board of Trustees in June for what is essentially a homecoming.
Before joining Fresno City College, where he also served as the vice president of Educational Services and Institutional Effectiveness for four years prior to the presidency there, Dr. Pimentel spent nearly 18 years with the West Hills Community College District working in various capacities at its two campuses and the district office.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Pimentel as our new chancellor,” said Mark McKean, the WHCCD Board of Trustees president. “His vision for the future of our district, coupled with his commitment to the Central Valley, will ensure that West Hills continues to thrive and provide exceptional opportunities for our students.”
The new chancellor said he is honored to join the West Hills Community College District and looks forward to working with the dedicated faculty, staff, and community to continue advancing the district’s mission of providing outstanding educational opportunities.
“Together, we will strive to create an inclusive and innovative environment that empowers our students to achieve their academic and career goals,” said Dr. Pimentel.
As FCC president he was already serving on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium board so he will now move to the WHCCD spot on the board that Dr. Clark vacates with her retirement.
“Chancellor Pimentel “ ben quote?
Dr. Pimental, who earned his doctorate in educational leadership, higher education, at Fresno State, is an alumnus of West Hills College Coalinga and transferred to Fresno State where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. He then received a master’s degree in social work with an emphasis on mental health from CSU Bakersfield before completing his doctoral degree.
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