MEDIA ADVISORY: CCC Chancellor-select Christian /CVHEC Statements
APPOINTMENT OF DR. SONYA CHRISTIAN
as Chancellor of the California Community Colleges System
Statements from the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium,
on behalf of the CVHEC Board of Directors
FEBRUARY 23, 2023
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Community Colleges Board of Governors today announced the unanimous selection of Kern Community College Chancellor Sonya Christian as the next permanent chancellor to lead the largest and most diverse system of public higher education in the nation.
The announcement comes following an extensive and nationwide search over the past seven months. Christian is an historic choice, becoming the first woman and the first person of South Asian heritage to be appointed as permanent chancellor.
“Dr. Christian is one of our nation’s most dynamic college leaders, with a demonstrated record of collaboration and results in the Central Valley,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “She understands what is needed to deliver on record levels of higher education investment to make real improvements to the lived reality of our students. I look forward to continuing to partner with Dr. Christian to ensure our community colleges are engines of equity and opportunity.”
See CVHEC story
As chancellor of the Kern Community College District, and previously as president of Bakersfield College, Dr. Christian serves on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors. Statements from the executive director and board chair:
Benjamín T. Durán Ed.D.
Executive Director – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium
As executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC), it is my pleasure to convey congratulations to Dr. Sonya Christian named today as the new chancellor of the California Community Colleges System.
The CCC Board of Governors made a wise choice by selecting a leader who has proven she understands California’s community colleges and will advocate on their behalf at the state and national level. Chancellor-select Christian’s CVHEC colleagues in the nine-county Central Valley are delighted because, as the new chancellor, she understands the needs and challenges of community colleges in the rural areas of California and the students and communities they serve. They join me in conveying the region’s pride in the selection of a talented and dedicated Central Valley woman as the chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
Kristin Clark, Ed.D.
Chancellor – West Hills Community College District
Chair – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors
It will be wonderful to have a leader in the system office that understands the unique complexities of leading institutions in rural communities.
| MEDIA AVAIL:
(Zoom or phone)
|
• Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director (president-emeritus Merced College) CONTACT: Tom Uribes: text 559.348.3278 (tom@uribes.com) • Dr. Kristin Clark, chancellor of WHCCD and chair of the CVHEC Board of Directors CONTACT: Amber Myrick: 559-934-2132 (ambermyrick@whccd.edu) |
| ONLINE: | https://www.cccco.edu/ |
| ABOUT CVHEC | The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium is made up of 28 institutions of higher education in the Central Valley’s nine-county region from San Joaquin to Kern Counties including 15 community colleges and four multi-campus community college districts. The presidents and chancellors of each institution serve on the CVHEC Board of Directors. A goal of the consortium is to increase Central Valley’s certificate and degree attainment rates. CVHEC is a regional convener on post-secondary equitable work that speaks in a single voice on higher education policy issues affecting our region. |
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