BOARD NEWS: State Center Community College District Names New Fresno City College President

SCCCD MEDIA ADVISORY (May 3, 2022) — State Center Community College District (SCCCD) Board President, Nasreen Johnson, announced at its regular May 3, 2022 meeting, the appointment of Dr. Robert Pimentel to the position of Fresno City College (FCC) President. After conducting a national search, the Board voted to appoint Dr. Pimentel, effective July 1, 2022.

“The Board of Trustees are grateful to the search committee whose commitment to the District’s values of academic excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion was evident throughout the process,” said Board President Johnson.

Dr. Pimentel is the vice president of educational services & institutional effectiveness at Fresno City College and will replace Dr. Marlon Hall who began serving as interim president on January 11, 2022, after President Dr. Carole Goldsmith was named State Center Community College District Chancellor.

Before joining FCC in 2018, Dr. Pimentel served at West Hills Community College District in key leadership positions for 11 years and as a classified staff member for nearly seven years. “I am honored to be selected to

lead California’s First Community College and one of the most equity minded institutions in the Central Valley. I am thrilled and energized to continue to serve the community of Fresno and work alongside faculty, staff, and administrators who are dedicated to the lives of our students,” stated Dr. Pimentel.

Dr. Pimentel’s contributions to FCC students and their communities include caring, consistent efforts in anti- racism, equity, and social justice, mentoring guided pathways initiatives with an equity framework, leadership in participatory governance redesign, institutional effectiveness through improved data collection and interpretation, prison and formerly incarcerated student education and expansion of workforce education and dual enrollment for our Valley high school students. As Vice President at FCC, Dr. Pimentel’s responsibilities included strategic enrollment management, Student Equity and Achievement (SEA) program, accreditation, grants development strategies and awards, institutional research and planning, career technical education, strategic planning, and budget management. Dr. Pimentel is an equity-minded leader in Fresno and surrounding rural communities of the Central Valley who is committed to finding permanent solutions that address the basic needs of community college students. He is committed to furthering student equity, diversity, and inclusion and building campus and community coalitions towards racial equity.

Dr. Pimentel is a product of the California Community College system and a first-generation college student, graduating from West Hills College Coalinga before transferring to California State University, Fresno, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. He received a master’s degree in social work with an emphasis on mental health from California State University, Bakersfield, and a doctorate in educational leadership, higher education from California State University, Fresno.

SCCCD Chancellor Dr. Carole Goldsmith said, “Dr. Pimentel has a wealth of experience and I am looking forward to working with him in his new role. He has been highly successful as a vice president of Fresno City College and he enjoys tremendous support on the campus and in the District. He has been involved in a number of statewide initiatives and is known across the state for his work in Workforce Development, Enrollment Management, and Academic Research expertise. I am confident he will continue to accelerate the college’s mission to provide access to equity-centered, quality, innovative educational programs, and services.

“As part of our process, we heard from all college constituency groups and the community. I believe Dr. Pimentel’s experience in collaborative academic research will position us for a promising future. He has demonstrated his commitment to a culture of anti-racism, where respect and inquiry are valued, and has worked to foster student success as well as improve the economic, social, and cultural development of our students. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to put forward a candidate with his expertise and knowledge of Fresno City College.”

Fresno City College enrolls approximately 24,000 students and offers curriculum for students seeking transfer to a four-year college or university, career preparation, or basic skills education. Fresno City College is a college of State Center Community College District.

CONTACT: Lucy Ruiz – Executive Director, SCCCD Public & Legislative Relations (559-243-7104)