Frank Chong, Superintendent/President, Santa Rosa
Junior College
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Dr. Frank Chong has been
Superintendent/President of Santa Rosa Junior College
(SRJC) since January, 2012. Prior to joining Santa Rosa
Junior College, Dr. Chong served as the Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Community Colleges at the United States
Department of Education in Washington, D.C. helping to
shape President Barack Obama’s community college agenda.
From 2006 to 2009, he was President of Laney College in
Oakland, and served as President of Mission College in
Santa Clara from 2003 to 2006. Dr. Chong was Dean of
Student Affairs at San Francisco City College from 1993 to
2003. He served as Special Assistant to Willie Brown,
Speaker of the California Assembly, from 1987 to 1991.
Chong has a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of
California, Berkeley in social welfare and Asian American
Studies, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration
from Harvard University. He also completed the Educational
Management program at Harvard’s Graduate School of
Education, and earned his doctorate (Ed.D) in educational
administration leadership and technology from Dowling
College in Oakdale, New York.
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Keith Curry, President/CEO, Compton
College
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Dr. Keith Curry is the
President/CEO of the Compton College and Compton Community
College District. Dr. Curry is an active member of the
Foundation for Compton Community College District, the
Association of California Community College Administrators,
the California Community College Athletic Association, the
Statewide Association of Community Colleges (SWACC), and
the President’s Roundtable. Dr. Curry has presented at
numerous conferences, workshops, and symposia. His areas of
expertise include preparing students for higher education;
bridging the digital divide; establishing partnerships
among postsecondary institutions, and ensuring access for
all students. He is an adjunct faculty member at California
State University Fullerton College of Education. Keith
Curry earned his Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies from
the University of California at Santa Cruz and his
doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of
California at Irvine.
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Tammeil Gilkerson, President, Laney
College
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Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson is
currently the president of Laney College in Oakland,
California. Prior to her current role, she served as
vice president of academic and student affairs at Contra
Costa College and as the first Diversity, Inclusion and
Innovation Officer for the Contra Costa Community College
District. Tammeil has also served as the vice president of
academic affairs at San José City College and Dean of
Counseling and Matriculation at Evergreen Valley
College. Tammeil began her community college career
as a faculty member in psychology-counseling at Chabot
College, serving as the coordinator for the TRIO Student
Support Services program. In addition to her work in
community colleges, she served as the Academy and Education
Policy Director at The Greenlining Institute and in
positions at UC Berkeley in the Office of Student Life and
the Early Academic Outreach Program. Dr. Gilkerson
holds a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in
counseling with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy
and pupil personnel services, and a doctorate in
educational leadership.
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Michael Gutierrez, President, Sacramento City
College
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Michael Gutierrez has served in
a variety of roles in the Texas system of higher education
since 1992. Michael currently serves as Executive Vice
President for Academic Affairs and Student Success at
Eastfield College in the Dallas Community College District.
His responsibilities have included working as a Program
Coordinator for the Texas Council on Vocational
Education, a Research Specialist for the Texas Council
on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness, a Grants Manager
for the Dallas Community College District, Director of the
South Irving Center, Assistant to the President for College
and Resource Development at Palo Alto College in the San
Antonio Community College District, Dean of Education
Center at Mountain View College, faculty member in
Government at Richland College, and Executive Dean at
Mountain View College. Michael earned a Bachelor’s degree
in History and Latin American Studies from Princeton
University, a Master’s in Public Affairs from the
University of Texas at Austin, and is completing a
Doctorate from Cumberland University in Higher Education.
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John Hernandez, President, Santiago Canyon
College
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Dr. John C. Hernandez started
his appointment as the fifth president of Santiago Canyon
College in July 2017. Prior to the appointment, he served
for one year as interim president of SCC. Dr.
Hernandez started his tenure at SCC in 2005 as the vice
president for student services, where he was an advocate
for increasing opportunities for students and partnering
with others to provide a seamless delivery of support
services. Prior to his tenure at Santiago Canyon
College, John served in the following administrative roles:
Associate Vice President & Dean of Students at Cal Poly
Pomona; Associate Dean for Student Development at Santa Ana
College; and Assistant Dean for Students Affairs at
California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Hernandez
holds an associate degree in arts from Fullerton College; a
B.A. in sociology from Cal State Fullerton; an M.S. in
counseling with an emphasis in student development in
higher education from Cal State Long Beach; and a Ph.D. in
college student personnel administration from the
University of Maryland, College Park.
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Kindred Murillo, Superintendent/President,
Southwestern College
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Dr. Kindred Murillo serves as
the Superintendent/President of Southwestern College, where
she is leading a systemic culture change focused on student
completion, inclusion, and race relations. Serving for five
years as the Superintendent/President of Lake Tahoe
Community College, Kindred worked with the campus and the
local community to financially stabilize the college.
Before Tahoe, she served as the Vice Chancellor of
Administrative Services for Contra Costa Community College
District. Kindred also served as the Vice President of
Administrative Services at Pasadena Area Community College
District. She was promoted to Vice President of Finance and
Administrative Services when Copper Mountain Community
College became a separate district and underwent its first
accreditation. Kindred was hired as an adjunct faculty at
Desert Community College District in 1996, served as a
full-time faculty member, and moved into college
administration in 2000. Kindred is a product of the
community college system, graduating from Barstow College
with a liberal arts degree. She completed her Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration at Redlands University
and earned a Master of Science in Organization Development
and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine
University.
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Daniel Peck, President, Mission College
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Daniel Peck started his
position as president of Mission College in 2014. His
professional career started in the nonprofit and
educational sectors, including United Way. In 2005,
Daniel’s career took him to Mission College, in Santa
Clara, California to begin his responsibilities as the
research analyst. Daniel remained with Mission College
until 2009, when he accepted an administrative position
overseeing Institutional Research at Foothill
College. Daniel was at Foothill for a brief period,
returning to Mission to head the newly created Office of
Research, Planning, and Institutional
Effectiveness. In 2012, Daniel assumed the interim
position of Vice President of Instruction, where he oversaw
preparations for the 2014 accreditation site visit, the
hiring of nearly a dozen new full-time faculty, and the
ongoing development of curriculum and degrees. Later,
Daniel moved into his current position of Mission College
President with the goal of providing stability while
continuing forward momentum. Daniel pursued his
education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana,
where he graduated with a double major Bachelor of Arts in
Sociology and English. Daniel remained at Indiana to begin
his career in education, serving as an instructor for
Sociology and Statistics, and working many years in the
Center for Survey Research while taking an MA in Sociology
along the way.
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Diana Rodriquez, President, San Bernardino
College
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Diana Z. Rodriguez is the 14th
president of San Bernardino Valley College. She is a native
of Southern California and has over 25 years of higher
education experience, with 11 years in senior leadership
positions. Diana served as Vice President of Student
Services and Vice President of Academic Services throughout
her professional journey. She has spent much of her career
as a tenured faculty member and counselor. She has led
major grant funding initiatives and the implementation of
campus-wide student diversity initiatives, which has
generated much positive attention for the colleges and
districts of which she has been a part. She earned an
Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Palo Verde College,
a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, a Master’s Degree in
Business Administration, and a Master’s Degree in Education
from CSU, San Bernardino.
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Luis Sanchez, President, Moorpark College
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Luis Pablo Sanchez, JD, became
president of Moorpark College on February 23, 2015. Prior
to that, he was the Vice President of Academic Affairs for
Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California from 2011
to 2015. From 1991 to 2006, he was a full-time professor of
law and taxation at Sierra College, in Rocklin, California,
where he was twice recognized as Outstanding Instructor by
the student body, and then was dean of Business,
Technology, and Public Safety from 2006 to 2011. Before
that, Mr. Sanchez maintained a private commercial law
practice and taught law part-time at California State
University, Sacramento. He serves on the Board of Directors
of the Ventura County United Way, as well as the Board of
Managers for the Conejo Valley YMCA. Luis received his
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State
University, Sacramento in 1976, his Juris Doctorate degree
from the University of the Pacific (McGeorge School of Law)
in 1983, and his Master’s degree in Business and Tax law
from McGeorge Law School in 1990.
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JoAnna Schilling, President, Cypress
College
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Dr. JoAnna Schilling, is
delighted to serves as the President of Cypress College.
She previously held administrative roles at Cerritos
College as Vice President of Academic Affairs/Assistant
Superintendent, and at Rio Hondo College as Interim Vice
President of Academic Affairs, and the Dean of Arts and
Cultural Programs, Continuing and Contract Education.
Schilling served as the co-chair on the statewide CCCCO
Curriculum Inventory project (COCI) and was elected to the
California Chief Instructional Officers (CIO) Executive
Board representing the Orange County/Los Angeles County
region from 2013-2017. Prior to her experience in higher
education, she was a literary associate and educator for
the professional conservatory at South Coast Repertory
Theatre. She is a published author. Dr. Schilling has
a doctorate in education from Oregon State University, an
MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University, and a
BA in English from Smith College.
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Stephen Schoonmaker, Superintendent/President,
College of the Siskiyous
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Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker was
selected as the 12th Superintendent/President of College of
the Siskiyous in 2017. He spent his early career serving
public four-year universities and colleges in progressively
responsible positions in Student Services. In 1992, he
moved from higher education to serve for six years as the
Human Rights and Social Services Analyst for the city of
Salem, Oregon. His returned to higher education in 1998,
starting his community college career in New Mexico; he
quickly moved from Student Services to Academic Affairs at
the largest community college in Oregon and rose to the
level of Vice President in Oregon. In 2011 Dr. Schoonmaker
was selected to serve as President of College of the
Ouachitas. In 2016, he formed Cross County Leadership
Solutions LLC as a consulting firm specializing in
leadership coaching, strategic planning, systems thinking,
and change management. Stephen Schoonmaker earned a
Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of
Vermont, his Master’s degree in College Student Personnel
Services from Western Illinois University, and completed
his Doctoral degree in Educational Administration with an
emphasis in Community College Leadership in 2004 from New
Mexico State University.
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Keith Snow-Flamer, Superintendent/President,
College of the Redwoods
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Dr. Keith Snow-Flamer was
named President/Superintendent of College of the
Redwoods effective April 11, 2017. Over the course of his
higher education career he has served in positions as Vice
President, Executive Dean, Dean, and Director. He has
gained experience working at Colleges and Universities,
including College of the Redwoods, McHenry County College
and Eastern Washington University. His breadth of
experience has provided him with expertise in enrollment
management, instruction, student development and support
services areas. As an educational leader, he believes that
it is critical to embrace diversity and remain sensitive to
the needs of all students. He supports the success of those
who may be differently abled or who experience social,
cultural and economic orientations and backgrounds
different from those experienced by faculty and staff with
whom these students interact. He firmly believes that
diversity is strength—and that multiculturalism is
something to be celebrated, promoted, and cherished. He
holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Washington
University, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from
Eastern Washington, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in
Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.
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Robin Steinback, President, Moreno Valley
College
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Dr. Robin Steinback is the
fourth president of Moreno Valley College. Her professional
career includes Vice Chancellor of Educational Services in
Riverside Community College District, Vice President of
Academic Affairs at Moreno Valley College, Cuyamaca College
and Solano Community College, dean of instruction and
tenured faculty at her alma mater, Mt. San Jacinto
College. Dr. Steinback has a reputation for creating
cross-institutional, collaborative, and innovative teams
that seek to transform their institutions, communities and
regional ecosystems. She is ever mindful that what we
do individually and collectively through our educational
programs and support services matter in the lives of our
students, employees, and the communities we serve.
She is a product of the community college system,
having graduated from Mt. San Jacinto College. She attended
UC Riverside, earning an undergraduate degree and a
master’s degree in Sociology. She received her Ph.D. from
UCR in Sociology.
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Brenda Thames, President, West Hills
College
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Brenda Thames began her
position at West Hills College Coalinga in
February, 2017. Prior to her current position, she
served in a broad spectrum of positions at Modesto Junior
College, American River College and at the Los Rios
Community College District Office. Thames was a 2016-2017
Fellow with the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community
College Excellence. In 2014, she completed the Harvard
University Institute for Educational Management. Thames
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in
Sociology and Social Welfare from University of California,
Berkeley, a Master of Arts degree in Social Work from the
University of Southern California, and a Master of Arts
degree in Public Administration from USC. She is currently
a doctoral candidate in Education with a concentration in
Community College Leadership at Oregon State University.
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Chris Vitelli, Superintendent/President, Merced
College
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Chris Vitelli is currently the
Superintendent/President at Merced College. He has
more than 12 years experience in management and
administration, including senior administration-level
experience serving in various capacities, including Chief
Student Services Officer (CSSO), Chief Instructional
Officer (CIO), and Accreditation Liaison Officer
(ALO). Vitelli has also served as Dean of Instruction
and interim Vice President of Student Services at Columbia
College in Sonora, California. Other professional
experiences include Director of Student Services for the
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University
of Florida and Director of Business, Industry, and
Community Services at Merced College. Vitelli has led
efforts to make “students first” while at Merced
College. As a first-generation college graduate, he
earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and
Communication at the University of Florida, a Master of
Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy
from Harvard University, and he is currently working toward
a doctorate degree at Arizona State University.
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Matthew Wetstein, Superintendent/President,
Cabrillo College
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Dr. Matt Wetstein was recently
selected to serve as Superintendent/President of Cabrillo
College in Aptos, CA. Prior to his appointment at
Cabrillo, he served as the Assistant Superintendent/Vice
President of Instruction and Planning at San Joaquin Delta
College (Delta College) in Stockton, CA, from
2012-2017. His earlier administrative service
included service as an instructional division Dean and as
Dean of Planning, Research and Institutional Effectiveness
at Delta College. He started his academic career as a
political science professor. He has been a statewide
leader in the planning and research field, having served on
the Board and as President of the Research and Planning
Group of California Community Colleges. Dr. Wetstein
was a member of the pioneering class of Aspen Institute
Presidential Fellows for Community College Excellence, a
group of 40 community college leaders selected for training
in leadership and transformational change at U.S.
community colleges. He is the author or
co-author of a number of articles and books. Dr.
Wetstein earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science
from the University of St. Francis (Joliet, IL) and a
Master’s and Doctoral degree in political science from
Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL).
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Michael White, President, Woodland Community
College
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Michael White is president of
Woodland Community College. Previously, Dr. White served
four years as Reedley College’s vice president of student
services. He also served Reedley as interim president in
2012 and 2013, and as a faculty member, department
chair, and coach from 1990 to 2009. Across his over 30-year
career, Michael has instructional experience at the high
school, community college, and university levels and has
developed expertise in Hispanic Serving Institutions. He is
a graduate of the Society for College and University
Planning (SCUP) Institute. Dr. White received his
Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State
University, Fresno, and earned a Master of Science degree
in Physical Education with distinction from the University
of New Mexico. He earned a Ryan secondary teaching
credential and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from
the University of California, Davis.
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Henry Yong, Chancellor, Yosemite Community College
District
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Henry Yong is Chancellor at
Yosemite Community College District. Mr. Yong has served
over 30 years in academia, ranging from high school
vocational training, adult education, to community
colleges. Prior to this, he served as the President of
Evergreen Valley College in San Jose for six years. Before
that, he served as the Vice President of Instruction at
Taft College for six years. He also served as the Dean of
Academic Programs at Victor Valley for five years, and
three years as the Associate Dean of Occupational Education
at West Hills College. Prior to the community college, Mr.
Yong served as an administrator for the Regional
Occupational Program (ROP) for seven years. Mr. Yong
received M.A. and Ed.S. Degrees in Educational
Administration and Leadership from Loma Linda University.
He is working on his Ed.D. at La Sierra University with a
focus on barriers to academic success for first semester
economically disadvantaged students.
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