We welcome these California community college CEOs as
members of the seventh cohort of the Institute on Leadership.
Pedro Avila, Superintendent-President, Gavilan
College
Dr. Pedro Avila is the 8th
Superintendent/President of the Gavilan Joint Community College
District. He has over 20 years of experience in higher education,
with a focus on increasing college-going rates and success for
underrepresented student populations. Dr. Avila’s work is
grounded in his personal experiences as an immigrant,
English-language learner, and first-generation college student.
He was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and emigrated to Castroville,
California, with his family in 1984. Like many migrant families,
they worked as farmworkers and experienced poverty and housing
insecurity. Dr. Avila’s experiences have shaped his commitment to
equity and inclusion in higher education and his passion for
helping students achieve their academic and career goals. Dr.
Avila holds a Doctorate in Community College Policy from the
University of Maryland, a Master of Business Administration from
Rockhurst University, and degrees in Latino Studies and Business
from Fresno State University. He also earned a Certificate in
Institutional Performance Assessment from Harvard’s Higher
Education Institute.
Rudy Besikof, President, Laney College
Dr. Rudy Besikof began his fourth
year as President of Laney College in Oakland in Fall of 2023. He
has been at the college since 2018, when he was first hired as
its Vice President of Instruction and has been an educational
administrator since 2011. He received multiple Certificates of
Recognition and Achievement for his work in the classroom
teaching English as a Second Language and Education courses
designed to prepare future teachers of ESL. In addition, he has
taught doctoral-level Educational Leadership courses, published
professional articles in publications such as the Community
College Journal for Research and Practice, and presented
nationally his dissertation methods and findings, first for the
Council for the Study of Community Colleges and then for the
Council for Resource Development. Dr. Besikof is a 2010 graduate
of UCLA’s Educational Leadership Doctoral Program. His
dissertation, The Role of the Community College President in
Fundraising: A Best Practices Study, was recognized with the UCLA
School of Education’s Outstanding Dissertation Award. He holds a
Bachelor’s Degree in English and French and a Master’s in
English/Applied Linguistics, both from the University of
Colorado.
Dr. Anthony Culpepper, President, Los Angeles Southwest
College
Over the years Dr. Culpepper has
experienced what is genuinely special about higher education.
Culpepper has served in various progressive Administrative
Leadership roles that include President, Interim and Acting
President, Executive Vice President, Vice President (CBO), Chief
Negotiation Officer, Vice President (CFO). Dr. Culpepper serves
as President of Boards: President of the Board: Los Angeles
County Regionalized Business Services Corporation. Instruction
Leadership: Full Professor/Instructor at Trident University
(Full-time), Professor/Instructor (tenure-track) as an Irvine
Scholar at Pepperdine University (Full-time), Full Professor at
Ashford University, Professor/Instructor at the University of La
Verne (adjunct) and as Academic Leadership; Vice Provost of
Faculty Affairs at Ashford University, several roles as Dean
which includes the Colleges of Business Administration and
Information Systems at Trident University. His education includes
37 units at LASC, AA (Long Beach City College), BS (CSU Dominguez
Hills), MBA (Pepperdine University), Ed.D in Organizational
Leadership (Pepperdine University), and J.D. (University of West
Los Angeles School of Law). He possesses three finance and
accounting certifications as a Certified Public Accountant,
Certified Management Accountant, and Certified Financial Manager.
Willy Duncan, Superintendent–President, Sierra
College
William H. Duncan IV was selected as
the sixth President of Sierra College in 2011. President Duncan
revitalized the college’s facility master planning efforts
resulting in a 20-year plan to accommodate the future growth and
needs of the Rocklin campus, culminating in the passage of a $350
million bond measure in June 2018. The Rocklin campus master plan
consists of new and upgraded facilities, including a new science
building, a public safety center, infrastructure improvements and
expansion of student services facilities. President Duncan is
also leading the college through a re-engineering of programs and
services to streamline student progress, ensure student success
and remove the barriers to completion. A key component of this
effort has been the development of a strong collaborative
partnership with the K-12 school districts in the college’s
service area. Working closely with the Sierra College Foundation,
the college opened its first centralized Veterans Center to
support the growing population of returning service men and women
and created the Sierra Promise program for students who may not
have considered college an option.
Albert Garcia, Superintendent–President, Sacramento
City College
Albert Garcia became the president at
Sacramento City College in April of 2023. After teaching for four
years at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, he worked as a
professor in the English Department at Sacramento City College in
1991. With a tenure of over 30 years at the college, he served
SCC as a professor with two terms as the English Department
Chair, as Dean of the Language and Literature Division, and as
Vice President of Instruction. In 2018, he held an interim role
as Associate Vice Chancellor of Instruction at the Los Rios
Workforce and Economic Development Center. Albert has a BA in
English from CSU, Chico, an MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from
the University of Montana, and an EdD in Higher Education and
Organizational Change from Benedictine University. He grew up in
rural Northern California and as a young man worked as a ranger
in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Virginia Guleff, Superintendent–President, Butte
College
Virginia Guleff was appointed the
Superintendent/President of Butte-Glenn Community College
District effective July 1, 2022. She was previously the Vice
President of Instruction and Accreditation Liaison Officer for
Butte College, where she oversaw all instructional programs
including the economic and workforce development arm of the
College as well as all accreditation activities, for six years.
Virginia began in the California Community College System in 1986
as a tutor at De Anza College. She has served as a classified
employee and a part-time faculty member at De Anza College; a
full-time tenured faculty member, an ESL coordinator, and as
Chair of English, Communication and World Language in the San
Diego Community College District; Dean of CTE, Transfer and Basic
Skills as well as Vice President of Education and Student
Services at Mendocino College; and Vice President of Instruction
at Solano College. President Guleff’s leadership at Butte College
is focused on securing DEIA2 practices into the foundation of the
College, starting with updating the mission statement;
reinvigorating participatory governance; and working with the
campus community to develop a new strategic plan.
Lennor Johnson, Superintendent–President, Imperial Valley
College
Dr. Lennor M. Johnson serves as the
Superintendent/President for Imperial Valley College. He has
spent over 26 years working in higher education in both the
university and community college settings. Throughout his career,
he has served in several leadership and faculty roles, including
campus director, vice president, dean, professor, graduate
curriculum chair, academic advisor, director of admissions, and
director of marketing & community relations. All through his
career, three core values have driven his decision-making: an
unrelenting commitment to helping underserved students,
eliminating social and academic barriers to student success; and
fostering excellence in everything we do. These values have kept
him focused on improving the lives of students and future
generations and have resulted in tremendous success for the
students and institutions he has served. His greatest honor came
in 2023 when Imperial Valley College won the coveted Aspen
Community College Excellence prize.
Tina King, President, San Diego College of Continuing
Education
Dr. Tina M. King is an advocate for
students and educators. She is extremely passionate about issues
that affect student equity, student success, and policy in public
education. King has served in every sector of public education in
California. She began her career as a teacher in the Compton
Unified School District. King transitioned to postsecondary
education and served as the Student Affairs Officer at California
State University, Fullerton. She then transitioned to the
community college system becoming the first Director of
Institutional Research and Planning at North Orange Continuing
Education (NOCE) in the North Orange County Community College
District. While at NOCE, King was promoted to the Dean of
Instruction and Student Services serving as the Chief Student
Services Officer. Currently, King serves as the President of San
Diego College of Continuing Education where she oversees and
advocates for 20,000 students. Prior to her role as President,
she served as Assistant Superintendent and Vice President for
Student Affairs (ASVPSA) at Southwestern College. She oversaw a
division of more than 300 educators serving a diverse population
of nearly 30,000 students. Dr. King also serves as a professor at
San Diego State University, teaching equity-minded approaches to
student success to graduate students in postsecondary educational
leadership. Dr. King received a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal
Studies with a minor in Pan-African Studies and a Multiple
Subject Teaching Credential from California State University
Northridge. She holds a Master of Arts in Education and a Single
Subject Teaching Credential from the University of Southern
California, and a Doctorate in Community College Leadership from
California State University, Fullerton. Dr. King’s research
focuses on Faculty and Staff Validation and Academic Achievement
among Black Males at Community Colleges.
Kim Lopez, President, Cañada College
Kim Lopez serves as President of
Cañada College in Redwood City, California, a position she has
held since 2021. In August 2019, Ms. Lopez became Acting
President at the College of San Mateo (CSM) and in 2020 she was
named Interim President, a position she held until June 2021. She
also served as Vice President of Student Services at CSM. Prior
to joining CSM, Ms. Lopez served as Dean of Counseling and
Enrollment Services, and later Vice President of Student Services
at Cañada College. Prior to Cañada College, she was a Faculty
member at the College of the Siskiyous, serving as the Director
for EOPS, CARE, CalWORKs, and TRIO, and as a Counselor. Ms. Lopez
holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and
a Master’s degree in Counseling Education from Cal Poly San Luis
Obispo.
Marvin Martinez, Chancellor, Rancho Santiago
Community College District
Marvin Martinez was appointed the
Chancellor of the Rancho Santiago Community College District
(RSCCD) in July 2019. As Chancellor of one of the largest
community college districts in the state of California, Mr.
Martinez oversees a district that covers one quarter of the land
area of Orange County, registers an annual enrollment of nearly
50,000 students, and is one of the largest employers in the
region with more than 3,000 employees. RSCCD has eight major
facilities locations, including the main college campuses of
Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. Mr. Martinez
served as a member of the board of the Chief Executive Officers
for California Community Colleges (CEOCCC) from 2015-2022 and is
currently the Chair of the College Board’s Community College
Advisory Panel, which works to promote national recognition of
the role community colleges plan in providing access to higher
education. He also serves on the Chapman University
Attallah College of Educational Studies Advisory Board.
Chancellor Martinez, a native of El Salvador, immigrated to
Brooklyn, New York and then moved to Long Beach, California where
he graduated from Long Beach Wilson High. Martinez earned a
Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in
English from the University of California, Los Angeles
Robert Pimentel, President, Fresno City College
Dr. Pimentel is the President of
Fresno City College, where he focuses his efforts on improving
the lives of students from the most marginalized communities. His
work focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and data-informed
campus improvements. Dr. Pimentel has over 10 years of experience
working with dual enrollment students, early college/ middle
college high schools, working with incarcerated and formerly
incarcerated students and working with men of color. His work
aligns very well with the mission and vision of Fresno City
College which focuses on anti-racism, diversity, equity, and
inclusion. Dr. Pimentel is a product of the community college
system, he earned his Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from West
Hills College Coalinga, a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from
Fresno State, a Master’s of Social Work from Bakersfield State,
and a Doctorate in higher educational leadership from Fresno
State.
Torence Powell, Superintendent–President, Napa Valley
College
Dr. Torence Powell currently serves
as the Superintendent/President of Napa Valley College. During
his junior year of high school, Dr. Powell was close to dropping
out of school until his counselor encouraged him to take his
first community college class at Cosumnes River College. The
success he experienced in that first college class motivated him
to continue his educational journey and has made him a firm
believer in the transformative power of the Community College
system. An Urban Planner by training, Dr. Powell worked in the
areas of affordable housing and transportation planning before
returning to higher education in 2010. Prior to his current role
at Napa Valley College, he served as the Associate Vice
Chancellor of Instruction, and Vice President of Student Access
and Online Engagement at the Los Rios CC District Office. Dr.
Powell also served as the Associate Vice President of Instruction
and Dean of Communication, Visual, and Performing Arts at
Cosumnes River College. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty
member in the Cal Poly Pomona doctorate program in Education. Dr.
Powell is a first-generation community college student, as well
as the first person in his family to graduate from college. He
holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from CSU, Los
Angeles; a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the
University of Redlands; a Master’s degree in Urban Design and
Planning from the University of Washington; and a Doctorate of
Education in Educational Leadership from UC, Davis.
Vincent Rodriguez, President, Coastline
College
Dr. Vince Rodriguez was born and
raised in Orange, California. He graduated from Orange Coast
College with an Associate degree and went on to earn his
doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State
University, Long Beach. Dr. Rodriguez has been employed at
Coastline College for 25 years and has worked as a classified
employee, instructor, and administrator. Over his 25 years at
Coastline, he provided leadership at each of Coastline’s learning
centers and spent many years overseeing a Distance Learning
Program that accounted for nearly 75 percent of the enrollments
at the college. Dr. Rodriguez worked at the college while
finishing his degrees. He believes his experience helps him
relate to Coastline students because he understands what it means
to be a college student who is also working full-time to support
their family, like many of Coastline’s students. Dr. Vince
Rodriguez is a strong believer in education being the most
powerful tool in providing social justice for traditionally
disadvantaged students. He has also been influenced by
discussions of racism and race during the past years. Dr.
Rodriguez is a resident of Huntington Beach. In his free time, he
volunteers as a coach and referee for the Costa Mesa region of
the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and enjoys working
with his players as a college guide and mentor.
Carla Tweed, President, Coalinga College
Dr. Carla Tweed was named President
of West Hills College Coalinga in January 2022. Dr. Tweed is a
proud alum of the district she is currently serving and holds a
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Chapman University, a
Master’s degree in Education, and a Doctoral Degree in
Educational Leadership in Organizational Leadership, both from
Brandman University. Prior to her appointment, she served as the
Executive Vice President at Yuba College.
Kristina Whalen, President, Foothill College
Dr. Kristina Whalen is the 8th
president of Foothill College. She started in the role in March
2023 after serving as a vice president of instruction at Las
Positas College and as the associate vice chancellor of
Enrollment Management and Instructional Success at City College
of San Francisco. While in these positions, Dr. Whalen played an
active role in strategic planning, guided pathways, and
accreditation and has developed a special commitment to
data-informed practices to improve the student experience. She
has been recognized for her leadership with numerous awards and
was a member of the 5th cohort of the Aspen Institute’s Rising
President’s Fellowship.
Jennifer Zellet, Superintendent–President, Antelope
Valley College
Dr. Jennifer Zellet serves as the
Superintendent President of the Antelope Valley Community College
District. In her 20+-year career in Higher Education, she has
worked in public and private, 2- and 4-year institutions.
Starting as an English faculty, she has continued to serve in the
California Community College System since 2008 as Dean, Vice
President of Instruction, and now Superintendent President. Dr.
Zellet resides in Palmdale and is actively involved in the
community as a member of Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, LA
Economic Development Council, and Edwards Air Force Base Civ-Mil
support group. Her focus at Antelope Valley College is a renewed
culture of service to students and the community, returning from
pandemic times to a new vision of education that equitably
prepares students for well-paying jobs and careers with growth
potential. She is dedicated not only to traditional transfer
pathways but also to ensuring that students have broad access to
Career and Technical Education that supports both their upward
mobility and local industry partners’ needs, ensuring that both
our students and the community continue to thrive. Dr. Zellet has
an earned Ph.D. in English and an MLitt (Master of Letters) in
Scottish and Irish Studies, both from the University of Aberdeen,
in Aberdeen, Scotland. Throughout both degrees, she was
affiliated with the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish
Studies. Born and raised in the Central Valley of California, Dr.
Zellet’s studies and career have taken her to both the East and
West coasts, the Midwest, and overseas.