The Pasadena Area Community College District (PACCD) seeks a Superintendent/President with the qualifications, demonstrated professional capabilities, and personal qualities that, in effective combination, will enable him or her to lead the College in successfully addressing the challenges and pursuing the opportunities outlined above.
The Superintendent/President is the chief executive officer of the District and the College and reports to a seven-member Board of Trustees elected by community residents of their respective geographical areas. The Superintendent/President is the administrative leader of the District and, therefore, is responsible for overseeing the operations of the entire District. These responsibilities include planning, assessment, budget, supervision of academic programs and administrative and student services, and the evaluation of key administrative personnel to make certain the institution is meeting the educational needs of the students and community. The Superintendent/President represents the District to community groups; business and industry; local public elementary and high school districts; federal, state, county and city agencies; public and private colleges and universities; and potential donors to the Foundation.
Meet the Candidates
Prior to his appointment as PCC’s interim superintendent/president, José A. Gómez served as executive vice president, provost (the university’s chief academic officer), and chief operating officer at California State University, Los Angeles. At Cal State LA, Dr. Gómez was instrumental in strategic efforts to enhance student success, elevate fundraising, and deepen engagement with the region through partnerships with government and industry. Dr. Gómez led major initiatives to expand opportunities for students at Cal State LA, including Cal State LA’s downtown campus; the Prison Graduation Initiative, California’s first bachelor’s degree program taught in state prison; and Cal State LA BioSpace, a regional incubator promoting inclusive entrepreneurship. He also established a partnership with the Los Angeles Football Club to renovate the university’s stadium field and construct a professional soccer training and operations facility on campus. As an educator, Dr. Gómez has taught courses at Chaffey College, Mt. San Antonio College, Cal State LA, and USC. He previously served as higher education adviser to the president pro tem of the California Senate, executive director of the California Educational Facilities Authority, and held senior positions in the California Department of Justice and the State Treasurer’s Office. Dr. Gómez is a Pasadena resident, and his experience as a first-generation college student, raised in the San Gabriel Valley, has inspired his three-decade career in education and government. He received Cal Poly Pomona’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2019.