2025 Fellows

Wheelhouse 2025 Fellows

Overview

We welcome these California community college CEOs as members of the eighth cohort of the Institute on Leadership

Aracely Aguiar​, President, Los Angeles Pierce College
Los Angeles Pierce College President Aracely Aguiar, brings decades of experience in community college leadership and a deep commitment to student success and equity. With more than 34 years of service in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), Ms. Aguiar is a leader who is focused on building pathways for student achievement and institutional growth. Ms. Aguiar’s leadership is defined by results-driven initiatives that prioritize access and innovation. As Vice President of Instruction at West Los Angeles College (WLAC), she led efforts to increase enrollment, boost degree completions and expand dual enrollment and noncredit programs. During her tenure WLAC developed new career pathways and strengthened fiscal management, all while ensuring accreditation compliance for programs. Ms. Aguiar spearheaded the development of LACCD’s pioneering Bachelor’s Degree program for WLAC. 
Ms. Aguiar’s passion for equity in education is borne from experience as a first-generation college graduate and immigrant, which showed her the transformative power of opportunity. She began her education at Los Angeles Valley College, later completing programs at Los Angeles City College and West Los Angeles College. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from UCLA and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. These experiences shaped her commitment to making education accessible and impactful for all students.
Lisa Cardoza, President, American River College
Lisa Cardoza proudly serves as the first Latina President of American River College in the Los Rios Community College District. American River College serves more than 32,000 students, has the largest Apprenticeship program in California, and is focused on improving the success of our disproportionately impacted students. She previously served as Vice President for University Advancement at Sacramento State and Executive Officer for The University Foundation, leading the University toward completion of its first, successful comprehensive fundraising campaign, On the Rise, which exceeded its $225 million goal by raising nearly $240 million. Lisa joined Sacramento State in 2015, primarily serving as President Robert S. Nelsen’s Chief of Staff and holding interim Vice President roles in Advancement and Human Resources. With a focus on empowering the next generation of leaders and making an impact on the Sacramento community, Lisa serves on the Board of Directors of Improve Your Tomorrow, Greater Sacramento Urban League, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, Street Soccer USA, Dignity Health Community Board, as well as on the Executive Committee for the 1300 Campaign and the Nueva Epoca Advisory Council. She is also a Senior Fellow of the Mountain Valley American Leadership Forum (ALF), Class XXII. She was named a Latino Changemaker in 2024 and received the ALF Exemplary Leader award the same year. Lisa earned a BA and MA from Stanford University and an Ed.D. from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She is also the very proud mother of two boys—Gabriel and Diego. 
Ryan Cornner, Superintendent/President, Glendale Community College
As the leader of GCC, Dr. Cornner is dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes a commitment to care for students, the community, and each other with empathy, respect and trust. He believes academic success thrives on engaging students inside and outside the classroom and creating an environment that enhances learning and allows self-exploration. Prior to his position at GCC, Dr. Cornner served as Vice Chancellor, Educational Programs & Institutional Effectiveness for the nine college Los Angeles Community College District, the largest community college district in the nation. Previously, he served as Associate Vice President for Strategic Planning and Innovation at Pasadena City College and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at East Los Angeles College. Dr. Cornner has twelve years of teaching experience within the community college and university systems, including providing instruction in the Master of Higher Education Counseling Program at USC. A native of Southern California, Dr. Corner earned his Doctor of Education and Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UC San Diego.
Marshall T. Fulbright III​, Superintendent/President, Monterey Peninsula College​
Dr. Marshall T. Fulbright III has more than 26 years of experience as an educator and transformational leader. Dr. Fulbright actively works to ensure cross-divisional collaborations to support students holistically. Before this position, he served as an instructional Dean at Norco College and College of the Sequoias. Also, for 11 years, he was a Professor at Long Beach City College, but before that, he taught at the elementary and high school levels, starting his career at Irvine USD. For years, his commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and antiracism has been unwavering. Dr. Fulbright is a California Community College Curriculum Committee member and participated in its DEI workgroup, which recently released suggestions and guidelines for including DEI practices in the curriculum. He has successfully implemented statewide initiatives such as Guided Pathways, AB705, student-equity activities, and dual enrollment programs. Dr. Fulbright earned his Doctorate in Education from Azusa Pacific University, his Master’s degree from UC Santa Barbara, and a Bachelor’s degree from Chapman University. 
Lee D. Lambert, Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District

Lee D. Lambert, J.D., Chancellor of Foothill-De Anza Community College District. He is a dynamic advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, student success, and community engagement. He also believes and invests in employee professional development and growth to better serve students and the community. Among Lambert’s many achievements and recognitions are the League of United Latin American Citizens Humanitarian Award, the Association of Community College Trustees Marie Y. Martin CEO of the Year Award, and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial President of the Year Award. He has also been honored as Tucson Man of the Year and a National Guard and Reserves of the U.S. Patriotic Employer. A sought after thought leader, Lambert serves on numerous local, state, and national boards and committees, including the U.S. Department of Labor Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, Advisory Committee of Presidents for the Association of Community College Trustees, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the National Association of Workforce Boards’ executive committee and NOVAworks Workforce Board. He previously served as an American Association of Community Colleges board member. In addition to his published writings, Lambert is an international and nationally recognized speaker on the future of work and learning. Lambert was born in Seoul, South Korea, grew up on three continents, and served in the U.S Army. He received a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and a Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law.

Lizette Navarette​, President, Woodland Community College
Dr. Lizette Navarette is a passionate student-centered leader with nearly two decades of experience in higher education and local government. She joined Woodland Community College as President in January 2024. Dr. Navarette brings an extensive history championing student success, affordability, and equitable educational opportunities for all students.
Prior to joining Woodland Community College, Dr. Navarette was the Executive Vice Chancellor at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office where she led college finance, facilities planning, institutional effectiveness, professional development, and government relations. From October 2022 to June 2023, Dr. Navarette served as interim deputy chancellor.  She previously served as the vice chancellor of College Finance and Facilities Planning and was the first woman to hold that position. Navarette has also served as the Vice President of the Community College League of California, Associate Director of Regional Relations for the University of California Riverside, and as the Youth & Education Coordinator for the City of Riverside. Navarette earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from UC Riverside, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne, and a doctorate in education from UC Davis. In 2021, Dr. Navarette earned the United Nations Global Education for All award for her research on working adult learners. Navarette is a proud first-generation graduate.
Claire Oliveros​, President, Riverside City College
Dr. Claire Oliveros a dedicated educational leader, scholar, and racial equity practitioner, currently serves as the President of Riverside City College (RCC), the 13th president of the institution within the Riverside Community College District (RCCD). With a career spanning nearly three decades, Oliveros has been deeply involved in higher education leadership, particularly in championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success. A first-generation college graduate and a Filipina American, Oliveros grew up in the Pacific Northwest, nurturing strong ties to her Filipino roots and Jewish ancestry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from Western Oregon University, a Master of Science in Educational Policy, Foundations, and Administrative Studies from Portland State University, and Doctor of Philosophy with a specialization in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University. Oliveros’ journey in higher education began as a student leader-activist at Western Oregon University, where she later served as the inaugural Multicultural Admissions Counselor. Her passion for equity and inclusion led her to various leadership roles in institutions across Oregon, Virginia, and California, focusing on developing programs and initiatives centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, accessibility, antiracism, and justice. In her role as President of RCC, Oliveros continues her commitment to student access and success, teaching and learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She brings extensive experience in overseeing large and complex divisions, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and fostering community engagement and partnerships. Oliveros’ leadership qualities and dedication to student equity have been recognized both nationally and locally. She was honored as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the United States and has been actively involved in community organizing and advocacy in support of the Filipino movement for self-determination and human rights.
Annebelle Nery​, President, Santa Ana College 
Annebelle Nery, Ph.D. was appointed President of Santa Ana College (SAC) in January 2022. In her 27 years of experience in education, Dr. Nery has served in numerous administrative capacities most recently as Vice President of Instruction and prior to that the Vice President of Student Services at College of the Desert. In these roles she collaborated successfully with colleagues, faculty, staff, students, leadership, and community members in multiple capacities in student services, instruction, instructional technology, and institutional effectiveness and planning. Through her leadership, SAC has experienced multiple terms of double-digit growth in enrollment, making SAC the fastest-growing college in the state, and in the 2023-2024 academic year, she led SAC back to large college status, earning the college an additional million dollars in annual funding. In the spring of 2024, Dr. Nery guided the development of the Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP), which maps the college’s goals and vision from 2024 through 2028. With her support, SAC now offers three bachelor’s degrees (Occupational Studies, Paralegal Studies, and Automotive Technology), the most in the CCC system, which fuels the local economy and helps students and alumni earn a living wage. In addition, SAC has now become number one in online education out of the California Community Colleges (OEI-CVC). She has also been instrumental in securing additional funding and developing valuable community partnerships to advance college efforts. Supported by Dr. Nery, the colleges at which she worked received state and national recognition in recent years that have increased student outcomes, positively impacted their respective local communities, and closed equity gaps. Under her leadership, many innovative and effective programs were founded. In 2021, Dr. Nery was recognized as the Administrator of the Year by the California Association of Postsecondary Education and Disability, and the California Community Colleges named Dr. Nery Chief Student Services Officer of the Year in 2019. Dr. Nery earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology/Organization and Statistics from the University of California, Riverside; a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles; and an Associate’s degree from Los Angeles Pierce College. A first-generation college student with Spanish as her first language, Dr. Nery is an equity advocate with significant work in social justice. Her guiding principle is to ensure student success is at the center of all decision-making.
James Preston, President, Lemoore College
Mr. James Preston has served as the President of Lemoore College since January 2022 and has 30 years of experience in the educational field. His career includes 17 years as a faculty member and 13 years in various administrative leadership roles including time as the Vice President of Instruction (VPI) and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO). Throughout his tenure, Mr. Preston has demonstrated a deep commitment to Lemoore College’s vision of the “relentless pursuit of student success,” championing efforts to create an inclusive, accessible, and student-centered learning environment. Under his leadership, the college has implemented several key initiatives, including innovative professional development for faculty, enhanced program and curriculum support through the Guided Pathways model, and strategic growth in Open Educational Resources (OER). He has also overseen the expansion of Zero-Textbook Cost (ZTC) degrees and certificates, ensuring equitable access to education by reducing financial barriers for students. In addition to his work at Lemoore College, Mr. Preston is actively engaged in statewide efforts to advance educational affordability. He recently served as the CEO representative on the Chancellor’s Office Taskforce for Burden-Free Instructional Materials and completed his second year on the statewide Affordability Taskforce as a regional CEO representative. Mr. Preston’s leadership reflects his unwavering dedication to student success and educational innovation.
Meridith Randall​, President, Golden West College
Meridith Randall served as Interim President of Golden West College (GWC) since March 2023 and was appointed permanent President in January 2024. She joined GWC as Vice President of Instruction in July 2020 after serving as Chief Instructional Officer (CIO) in the California community college system since 2006. She has been president of the statewide CIO organization twice and currently is Vice President of the Board for the California Coalition of Early and Middle Colleges (CCEMC), the leading state organization for the promotion of dual enrollment. During her career, Ms. Randall has been an accreditation liaison officer for four different institutions; served on six visiting accreditation teams; participated on state advisory committees for dual enrollment, institutional effectiveness and online education; and has supported the development of multiple career technical education programs, most notably the creation of nursing programs at two colleges. At these colleges, she supervised the creation of multiple short-term and long-term planning processes that resulted in strategic plans. In 2019-2020, she was director of programs and educational effectiveness for the California Virtual Campus and helped lead the effort to develop a statewide online course exchange. Ms. Randall has focused her efforts on the support of quality curriculum; development of programs; support for free resources for students and removal of other barriers to success; and promotion of diversity in hiring and equitable student outcomes. She has also promoted efforts to increase professional development for all college employees as a part of succession planning and leadership development at institutions. She began her career in community colleges as an English instructor at Palau Community College in 1993, eventually becoming dean of academic affairs there. In 2000, she joined Mendocino College as associate dean and was promoted to vice president of educational services before leaving in 2012 for Shasta College. After a four-year stint at Shasta as CIO, she joined Chaffey College in the same role from 2016 to 2019. Ms. Randall has a Bachelor’s Degree from Amherst College, a Master’s Degree from Cornell University, and a Juris Doctor Degree from New York University School of Law. She is a member of the Jewish faith and has three adult sons – Henry, Ben and Sammy – with her husband Remeliano Gonzaga.
Denise Richardson​, President, Berkeley City College
Dr. Denise Richardson is a forward-thinking educational leader who prioritizes data-informed decision-making, student-centered financial management, and equitable outcomes for historically marginalized communities. Her 20-year journey in community college education began with the Peralta Community College Faculty Diversity Internship Program. Following this pivotal experience, she transitioned to the faculty as a part-time political science instructor at Laney College and the College of Alameda, ultimately attaining a tenure-track position at Laney. As an instructor, Dr. Richardson fostered critical inquiry, empowerment, and civic engagement, carrying these values into her roles as Vice President and President of the Laney Academic Senate. In 2012, she was honored as Laney Faculty of the Year. In August 2013, Dr. Richardson began her administrative career as Dean of Math and Sciences at Laney College. Her success in that role paved the way for her appointment as Vice President of Instruction at Merritt College, where she made significant strides in accreditation, strategic planning, and supporting industry partnerships. On July 1, 2023, she became Interim President of Berkeley City College (BCC) and was confirmed as the permanent president in November 2023. Dr. Richardson holds an Ed.D. and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Mills College, an M.A. in Political Science from San Francisco State University, and both a B.A. and an A.S. in Communication from Oakwood University. For Dr. Richardson, leading in community college education is not just an honor; it’s a vital opportunity that aligns seamlessly with her commitment to advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion.
Jessica Robinson​, President, Cuyamaca College
Dr. Jessica Robinson holds an Associate Degree from Cuyamaca College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work, a Master of Social Work degree with an administration concentration, and an Educational Doctorate with an emphasis in community college leadership from San Diego State University.  Dr. Robinson has over 22 years of achievement in higher education with a focus on student success and program development for disproportionately impacted and historically marginalized populations including former youth in foster care. At San Diego State University Dr. Robinson served as social work faculty, as the Undergraduate Curriculum Coordinator, and as the Undergraduate Advisor in the School of Social Work. Additionally, Dr. Robinson worked as the Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. This rich combination of experiences in leadership has allowed her to further strengthen the partnership between student services and instruction and advance high education strategic priorities. Most recently, Dr. Robinson served as the Vice President of Student Services and Interim President at Cuyamaca College before serving as the college’s seventh President and first President Alumnae, a position she currently holds. In addition to her educational and professional experiences, Dr. Robinson is best known for her leadership assets including her ability to empower and mobilize groups into action toward a common goal of providing access and success. She has been described as a steadfast, loyal, compassionate, reliable, efficient, spirited, and optimistic leader.
Kimberly R. Rogers​, President, Contra Costa College
Dr. Kimberly R. Rogers has over 25 years of administrative and teaching experience in higher education and currently serves as the President of Contra Costa College (CCC) in the Contra Costa Community College District (4CD). Since joining CCC as the Vice President of Instruction in January 2021, Dr. Rogers has worked to promote and expand academic and career pathways for CCC’s students. Under Dr. Rogers’s leadership, CCC was selected for the inaugural Achieving the Dream Accelerating Equitable Outcomes for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and People of Color Cohort; was chosen as a NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) campus; established a Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program; and became the first 4CD member of the Rising Scholars Network, a program to improve educational and career outcomes for justice-impacted individuals. Under Dr. Rogers’s leadership, CCC has experienced several consecutive terms of enrollment increases. She has overseen the implementation of student-centered scheduling; advocated for new personnel to alleviate understaffing and enhance CCC’s ability to serve its community; and demonstrated open-mindedness and creativity in embracing ways to serve students and meet the diverse needs of West County. Dr. Rogers organized a $2.8 million grant from the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation to support a new Head Start/Early Head Start program and much-needed updates to the Early Learning Center, a $500,000 multi-year partnership between CCC and the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, started a Phi Theta Kappa international honors society chapter, as well as a professional clothing closet. She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the Pennsylvania State University, master’s degree in education from Harvard University, and BA degree in French, with a minor in chemistry, from the University of South Carolina Honors College.
Charles S. Sasaki​, President/Superintendent, Ohlone College
Charles S. Sasaki began his career as faculty in Ethnic Studies and has since served in senior leadership roles which span the institution – as Chief Diversity Officer, Senior Student Affairs Officer, and Chief Academic Officer. Following eight years of service at the University of Hawaii – Windward Community College, Sasaki was appointed as the eighth President/Superintendent of Ohlone College in 2023. Sasaki has partnered with faculty to improve graduation and transfer as well as to introduce innovative low residency programs and workforce credentials which meet student and employer needs. Through the pandemic, he led his previous institution to buck national trends by growing the College’s enrollment, increasing success rates for underrepresented students, and closing equity gaps in distance education. His work at Ohlone College is now focused on maintaining academic excellence and student success, building partnerships to increase the visibility of the college, providing equitable service to all three cities in the district, and improving institutional enrollment and finances. A leader in the national community of Minority Serving Institutions, Sasaki is frequently called upon to speak about the creation of socially just learning environments for students at AANAPISIs. He is a three-time U.S. Fulbright Scholar, has served as Pew Charitable Trusts National Learning Communities Fellow, and volunteered for over a decade as lead trainer for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. A fifth-generation descendant of Hawaiian sugar plantation laborers, Sasaki was born in Los Angeles, raised in Orange County, and is proud to now call the southeastern San Francisco Bay Area home. 
Gregory Smith​, Chancellor, San Diego Community College District
Gregory Smith serves the San Diego Community College District as Chancellor, a role he assumed in March 2023, after serving as Vice Chancellor of People, Culture, and Technology Services since arriving in the district in 2020. He has 20 years of public sector service experience, beginning with the U.S. Department of Labor in 2004, where he enforced equal employment opportunity and affirmative action regulations in progressive leadership roles. A former California community college student and first-generation college graduate, Greg joined the community college system professionally in 2016 at Shasta College, where he served as Director of Human Resources, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, and Interim Vice President of Administrative Services. Throughout his career, Greg has worked to reframe how public, private, and nonprofit organizations operate to ensure diverse communities have meaningful access, achieve equitable success, and experience authentic belonging. He has been a key contributor on numerous workgroups which have produced actionable policy and practice innovations to expand diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism in teaching, learning, service delivery, and employment. He has led initiatives to redesign resource and budget allocation models to ensure equitable investments in and outcomes for diverse communities. Greg began his collegiate education at Cerro Coso Community College. He went on to earn Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and English Literature at Arizona State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
 

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