San Jose-evergreen’s interim chancellor is familiar face
The San José-evergreen Community College District’s new interim chancellor has a strong work history at similar districts throughout California, and more than a passing familiarity with San Jose City College.
Dr. Raúl Rodríguez most recently served as interim superintendent/president of Hartnell College. Prior to that, he served for one year as the interim president at East Los Angeles College.
From 2010 to 2019, Rodríguez was 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.
Rodríguez began his job as head of the San Jose district Jan. 18 after being unanimously selected by its board of trustees.
“We are very fortunate to have such a highly skilled and experienced leader,” board president Bob Livengood said in a statement, adding that the trustees “are confident that Dr. Rodríguez is the versatile, creative and passionate leader we need to lead the district during this challenging period.”
Rodríguez replaces Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland, who resigned in November to become chancellor of the North Orange County Community College District.
An educator for more than 35 years, Rodríguez worked from 1994-96 as vice president of instruction and interim president of San José City College (SJCC), roles that he held from 1994 to 1996. The San Jose-evergreen Community College District also includes Evergreen Valley College, Milpitas College Extension and the Community College Center for Economic Mobility.
“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,” Rodríguez said in a statement. “I’m excited to refamiliarize myself with SJCC and Evergreen Valley College.
“The district’s values of opportunity, equity and social justice align with my personal values as an educator,” he added. “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 Jose and Milpitas communities as well.”
Rodríguez earned a doctorate in psychology from Uc-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 a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management.
The district’s board of trustees set to conduct a nationwide search for a permanent chancellor this spring.
Anne Gelhaus: agelhaus@bayareanewsgroup.com Sports: sports@bayareanewsgroup.com
GENERAL MANAGER
Michael Turpin: mturpin@bayareanewsgroup.com
CIRCULATION
Richard Raker: rraker@bayareanewsgroup.com
Eric Bloom:
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Julie Bouslog:
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
Michelle “Rose” Slone: mslone@bayareanewsgroup.com
Obituaries: mnobits@bayareanewsgroup.com