Wheelhouse: The Center for Community College Leadership and Research

Overview July 22, 2020

Wheelhouse supports leadership and practice in the California Community Colleges, the nation’s largest system of higher education. We accomplish that mission in two ways:

Leadership/Network Development: Our CEO Institute on Leadership delivers professional and peer learning for annual, select cohorts of Wheelhouse Fellows—district chancellors and college presidents. Our Advancing Leaders Institute is designed for cabinet-level administrators who aspire to be CEOs. Across both institutes, we focus on leading for equity, purposeful disruption, individual and organizational agility, research and policy know-how. Throughout, we build lasting peer networks. Learn more about the Institutes here.

Actionable Research: We support and cultivate a statewide scholar network, bringing research to practice through timely, digestible, independent briefs to decision-maker audiences at the state, regional and local levels.

Our work is led by a diverse and committed team and counseled by a Board of Advisors composed of long-time leaders in community college practice and research. We are supported by UC Davis, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and private philanthropy.

Post October 3, 2022

Wheelhouse 2023 Fellows

Wheelhouse welcomes these California community college CEOs as members of the sixth cohort of the Institute on Leadership.

Luis Dorado, President, Los Angeles Harbor College

Dr. Dorado became Los Angeles Harbor College’s President in 2022. Prior to his current role, he served as Interim President. Following high school, he served honorably in the United States Marine Corps. His educational background includes an Associate of Arts degree from Campbell University in North Carolina, a Bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona, a Master’s degree from the University of La Verne, and a Doctoral degree from the University of Southern California.

Marilyn Flores, Superintendent-President, Rio Hondo College

Dr. Flores became Superintendent/President of Rio Hondo College in July 2022. Dr. Flores was previously the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Santiago Canyon College in Orange County. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Education and Spanish from the University of California, Riverside, a Master of Arts degree in Education with a Bilingual Crosscultural Language in Academic Development from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Institutional Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of California, Riverside.