FALL 2024 UPDATE
CVHEC welcomes CSU, Bakersfield President Harper
California State University, Bakersfield named Dr. Robert Harper (left) as president effective Sept. 25 after serving as interim president since December.
As president of a CVHEC member institution of higher education, President Harper takes over President-emeritus Lynnette Zelezny’s seat on the consortium board of directors although he has been serving since his interim appointment. [MORE]
Welcome to Taft Acting Superintendent/President Hampton
Dr. Todd Hampton (right) was named interim superintendent/president of West Kern Community College District/Taft College in September 2024. As CEO of a CVHEC member institution of higher education, Acting President Hampton serves on the consortium board of directors. [MORE]
SUMMER 2024 UPDATE
Dr. Pimentel is first Latino selected as WHCCD chancellor
(AUG. 1, 2024) — 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.
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.
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.
See story.
Primavera Monarrez: Porterville interim president
(AUG. 1, 2024) — Primavera Monarrez is the new interim president of Porterville College, effective in June announced Kern Community College District Chancellor Steven Bloomberg on May 28.
She fills the position vacated by Dr Claudia Habib’s move to the presidency of Ventura College and will be welcomed to the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors at its next quarterly meeting in September.
Before joining Porterville College in 2018, Ms. Monarrez served as dean of Student Success at Taft College and interim vice president of Student Services.
Dr. Armstrong: Fresno City College interim president
(AUG. 1, 2024) — Dr. Kim E. Armstrong will serve as the acting president of Fresno City College filling the position vacated by the recent appointment of FCC President Robert Pimentel as chancellor of the West Hills Community College District.
Dr. Armstrong, currently serving as the president of Clovis Community College, will bring her wealth of experience and her extensive leadership qualities to continue the excellent work at Fresno City College.
See story.
Dr. Chahal named Clovis City College interim
(AUG. 1, 2024) — Dr. Monica Chahal, vice president of Instruction at Clovis Community College, will step into role of interim college president with Dr. Kim E. Armstrong’s transition to Fresno City College.
Dr. Chahal’s dedication to educational excellence and student success makes her well-equipped for this interim leadership position.
See story.
Porterville: Dr. Lourido-Habib moves to Ventura top spot
(AUG. 1, 2024) — Following a nationwide search, the Ventura County Community College District approved the selection of Dr. Claudia Lourido-Habib to be Ventura College’s next president, chancellor Dr. Rick MacLennan recently announced.
Dr. Habib was Porterville College’s president since 2019 and a member of the the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors.
An alumna of two CVHEC-members — Fresno State, where she earned her Doctorate in Education as well as a bachelor’s in Interior Design, and National University with a master’s in Instructional Technology – Dr. Habib also served as the vice president of Madera and Oakhurst Community College Centers in Madera.
Her CVHEC board seat is now filled by her PC interim successor, Primavera Monarrez.
See: • Porterville Recorder story • Ventura College press release
APRIL 2024 UPDATE
Britt Rios-Ellis appointed Stanislaus State president
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Britt Rios-Ellis to serve as president of California State University, Stanislaus effective July 1.
Rios-Ellis currently serves as provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs at Oakland University (OU), a public research university in Rochester, Michigan. See story.
WKCCD selects Dr. Rafe E. Trickey to lead Taft College
The West Kern Community College District (WKCCD) Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Rafe Edward Trickey, Jr. as its next superintendent/president of Taft College effective June 3, 2024.
He will replace Superintendent/President Brock McMurray who is retiring after 23-plus years with the district. McMurray has served as superintendent/president since July 2022.
The Board approved an employment agreement April 10, 2024. See story.
FEBRUARY 2024 UPDATE
CSUB interim president Vernon Harper begins term
(BAKERSFIELD – FEB. 23, 2024) — Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. began his term Dec. 31 as interim president of California State University, Bakersfield, where he was provost and vice president for academic affairs. The one-year appointment follows the retirement of President-emeritus Lynnette Zelezny, who launched an era of unprecedented growth, excellence and resiliency at the university during her 5 1/2-year tenure.
Dr. Harper joined CSUB in 2016 as associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of academic programs and was named interim provost in 2019 before accepting the permanent role in 2020. Dr. Harper earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in rhetoric and communication from West Chester University and his doctorate in human communication from Howard University. See CSUB press release.
Clovis Chamber of Commerce honors CHSU Pres. Dunn
(CLOVIS – FEB. 23, 2024) — Florence T. Dunn, founding president of California Health Sciences University since 2012 and a Central Valley Higher Education Consortium board member, was among several honorees of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce at its annual “Salute to Business” Awards Luncheon Jan. 25.
She was presented the Einar Cook Leadership Award by Jerry Cook (Cook Land Company). [See Clovis Roundup]
WHCCD Chancellor Clark: champion of higher ed for all
(COALINGA – FEB. 23, 2024) — The West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) announced the retirement of Chancellor Dr. Kristin Clark effective July 2024.
For the past two years, Chancellor Clark has also served as chair of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors, which is made up of the chancellors, presidents and campus directors of 28 institutions of higher education in the region’s nine-county area. She also served on the board during her term as president of West Hills College Lemoore prior to the WHCCD chancellorship.
Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, said in a statement released upon the announcement Jan. 25, “Chancellor Clark has been a champion of higher education for all and certainly for the initiatives and projects CVHEC has undertaken. She is recognized throughout the state as the leader of one of the most innovative and student-centered multi-college districts in rural California. The West Hills Community College District and the communities it serves have been fortunate to receive her professional and personal leadership …” [STATEMENT]
JANUARY 2024 UPDATE
Jerry Filger named president of Bakersfield College
(BAKERSFIELD – JAN. 17, 2024) — Jerry Filger will take the presidential reins at Bakersfield College March 11 when he will also become a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors as the head of a consortium member college.
Filger, who has spent the last four years as the vice president for instruction at the College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas, was appointed BC’s eleventh president by the Kern Community College District Dec. 26.
DECEMBER 2023 UPDATE
Dr. Bloomberg is KCCD chancellor
(BAKERSFIELD – DEC. 8. 2023) — The Kern Community College District (Kern CCD) Board of Trustees announces the selection of Dr. Steven Bloomberg to serve as Kern Community College Disrict’s next chancellor effective March 1 when he will also assume his seat on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors.
Chancellor-select Bloomberg, who has spent the last five years leading Southeast Arkansas College, becomes the seventh chancellor of the KCCD succeeding Dr. Sonya Christian who was appointed the state chancellor of the California Community College System in April 2023.
This selection brings Dr. Bloomberg back to the district where he started his decades-long career in higher education: in 1994, Dr. Bloomberg served as the Workforce Development director for Cerro Coso Community College.
See the KCCD press release and the Bakersfield Californian article.
YCCD: Brian Sanders named Modesto JC president
Brian Sanders, a longtime instructor and administrator at Modesto Junior College, has been chosen to be the campus’ next president by the Yosemite Community College District’s Board of Trustees.
President-select Sanders, who will begin his new duties Jan. 1 when he will also assume his seat on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors, has been the interim vice president of Instruction at MJC since June 2022 and has served in other administrative roles at MJC and Columbia College since 2007.
See the YCCD press release and the Modesto Bee article.
APRIL 2022 UPDATE
Fresno Pacific Pres. Jones nears retirement
Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Jones, who will be retiring as president of Fresno Pacific University this summer after nearly five years of faithful service.
FPU Board of Trustees Chair Joshua Wilson, J.D., announced the retirement last fall saying, “On behalf of the FPU Board of Trustees I want to thank Joe and Yvette for their faithful service to the university and to the communities the university serves. We wish them all the best in their future journey and pray for God’s blessing on them.”
A search for a new president is now underway. See the retirement announcement. See President Jones bio.
Clovis Community College President Bennett to retire
Congratulations to Dr. Lori Bennett, who informed the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors earlier this month that she will retire as president of Clovis Community College effective January 2023.
President Bennett was appointed to serve as the second president of Clovis Community College in July, 2016.
See GVWire story (April 27, 2022).
Dr. Marlon Hall: Fresno City College interim president
Congratulations to Dr. Marlon Hall on his appointment to serve as interim president of Fresno City College by State CenterCommunity College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith in January.
He replaces Dr. Goldsmith who was appointed SCCCD chancellor in December. A search for the next FCC president is currently underway.
See Interim President Hall’s bio and the retirement full press release.
DECEMBER 2021 UPDATE
Dr. Carole Goldsmith appointed SCCCD chancellor
Dr. Carole Goldsmith, who was named the 11th chancellor of the State Center Community College District last month, was confirmed by the SCCCD Board of Trustees Dec. 14 and begins her new position on Jan. 1. She fills the position vacated when Dr. Paul Parnell retired on July 6.
Dr. Goldsmith was serving as the president of Fresno City College at the time of her appointment and in that capacity was a member of the CVHEC Board of Directors, which is made up of the presidents and chancellors of its 29-member institutions in the nine-county region from San Joaquin to Kern counties. She will remain on the board now as SCCCD chancellor. Dr. Goldsmith has also previously served as president of West Hills College Coalinga.
Dr. Goldsmith earned a bachelor of arts degree in history at Fresno State, a master of science in educational administration from National University (both CVHEC member institutions) and a doctorate in educational administration from the Joint Doctorate program offered by Fresno State and University of California, Davis.
In addition to Fresno City College , the district’s campuses are Reedley College, Clovis Community College, Madera Community College, Madera Community College at Oakhurst and the Career & Technology Center.
SCCCD Board President Annalisa Perea said, “With more than 20 years of experience in a variety of educational leadership roles along with her knowledge of this district and the community, she is the right choice for this significant position.”
See the SCCCD press release.
WHCCD names Dr. Tweed Coalinga campus president
Dr. Carla Tweed, a Central Valley native, will lead her alma mater as the 6th president of West Hills College Coalinga effective January 14, 2022 when she also becomes a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium board of directors.
See the WHCCD press release.
WHCCD selects James Preston to lead West Hills Lemoore
Mr. James Preston, former vice president of Educational Services who was serving as interim president of West Hills College Lemoore, was selected earlier this month to serve as the college’s 4th president effective January 1, 2022.
See the WHCCD press release.
UMass Global: thank you Sonia for CVHEC Board service
Congratulations to Sonia Gutierrez-Mendoza, director of UMass Global’s Visalia Campus, (formerly Brandman) on her appointment as assistant vice chancellor for Admission Operations of the independent university. The appointment was effective Nov. 29 when Sonia moved to her new office in the Irvine central office. She participated in her final CVHEC Board meeting during the recent quarterly Zoom call Dec. 2. Gutierrez-Mendoza joined UMass Global in 2009 and the CVHEC board in 2018. She has led multiple university campuses in the Central Valley since 2012 and in 2018-2019 she spearheaded the initiative for a new campus location established in Visalia.
