The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) will have a new chancellor starting June 1, according to Steve Springer, director of Public Affairs.
After a 10 month long search, the LACCD board committee voted unanimous to elect Dr. Francisco Rodriguez as it’s new chancellor. A final vote will be decided on Wednesday, March 26, according to Springer.
“After a thorough and exhaustive national search, we are confident that we have picked the person best qualified to lead our district. His dedication to education, devotion to students and strong leadership qualities will serve us well,” Miguel Santiago, president of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees, said.
Rodriguez has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Oregon and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree at UC Davis. He has been involved in education ever since.
For the past five years, Rodriguez served as the superintendent and president of the MiraCosta Community College District, in San Diego, Calif.
“He has doubled the graduation rate in MiraCosta, and I am confident that he will serve us well,” Springer said.
Rodriguez’s top priority is the success of students at Pierce College and the LACCD.
“My singular goal is the focus on the success of all students in the LACCD. That’s the goal,” Rodriguez said.
In addition to recruiting high school students, Rodriguez wants to focus on the population of students who are already attending college.
“We want to encourage students who have already invested time at Pierce and the rest of the LACCD to complete and make progress toward their academic goals,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez will work closely with the administration and presidents of all nine community colleges. Rodriguez will also work with elected officials on the federal level to advocate for more resources and more funding for the LACCD.
“I think Rodriguez is coming in at a great time because he will have more tools and monetary means to get things done,” Springer said.
Rodriguez plan to visit all nine colleges and assess needs and concerns of the presidents and the administration. As of now, specific dates have not been scheduled as to when he will visit the campuses.
“I want to talk to students when I visit. I want to know what their concerns are about their schools,” Rodriguez said.