NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: January 18, 2022
For further information contact:
Ryan Brown
Email: ryan.brown@sjeccd.edu
SJECCD Names New Interim Chancellor
(San José, Calif.) — The San José – Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) board of trustees has appointed a new interim chancellor, unanimously selecting Dr. Raúl Rodríguez during a vote in late December. Rodríguez, who most recently served as interim superintendent/president of Hartnell College, began in his position at SJECCD on January 18.
Prior to his role at Hartnell, Dr. Rodríguez served for one year as the interim president at East Los Angeles College. From 2010 to 2019, he served as chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in California with an enrollment of more than 60,000 students and a workforce of more than 4,000 employees.
"We are very fortunate to have such a highly skilled and experienced leader as Dr. Rodríguez to serve as interim chancellor," said SJECCD Board President Bob Livengood. "My colleagues on the board and I are confident that Dr. Rodríguez is the versatile, creative, and passionate leader we need to lead the District during this challenging period."
Community and professional service has been a priority of Dr. Rodríguez's throughout his career. He is currently on the board of the National Community College Hispanic Council and on the board of stewards of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Dr. Rodríguez previously served for eight years as a board member of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, for three years on the Orange County Taxpayers Association, and for three years on the International Consortium for Educational and Economic Development. In 2012 he was elected to the board of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges and appointed to the executive board of the CSU Fullerton Doctor of Educational Leadership Program. In addition, Dr. Rodríguez has been a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens and served as a board member on multiple non-profit organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club, the Goodwill, Junior Achievement, and the United Way.
"I am thankful to the board of trustees for placing their confidence in me to lead SJECCD, where the District's values of opportunity, equity, and social justice align with my personal values as an educator," Dr. Rodríguez said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the dedicated faculty, classified professionals, and administrators at SJECCD."
An educator for more than 35 years, among Dr. Rodríguez's previous positions held are vice president of instruction and interim president of San José City College (SJCC), roles that he held from 1994 to 1996.
"I know a lot has changed at SJCC since my time there, including the construction of numerous new buildings and other development of the campus, but in some ways this is like a homecoming. I'm excited to re-familiarize myself with SJCC and Evergreen Valley College," he said.
Dr. Rodríguez earned a doctorate degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He also holds a master's degree in school and applied psychology from Fairfield University and a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management.
"With the ongoing pandemic and other issues impacting community colleges, there are certainly many challenges ahead, but many opportunities to enhance the education and services that we are providing to the greater San José and Milpitas communities as well," Dr. Rodríguez said.
The SJECCD board of trustees is scheduled to consider Dr. Rodríguez's contract during its regular meeting on January 25. It will conduct a nationwide search for the next SJECCD chancellor this spring.