San Mateo, Calif., (February 23, 2023) – Last night, the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Melissa Moreno to serve as the District’s Interim Chancellor.

With over 25 years of higher education experience, Dr. Moreno most recently served as the President of Skyline College, a position she has held since August 2020.

“In Dr. Moreno, we have selected a higher education leader that is truly focused on the overall well- being of our students, and our valued team members,” said Dr. Lisa Petrides, President, San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Dr. Moreno for her partnership, and for her steadfast commitment to our mission of making access to higher education a right for all in San Mateo County.”

Prior to serving as President of Skyline College, Dr. Moreno has held a myriad of positions within higher education that have led her from serving as adjunct faculty to Vice President. While serving at Santa Barbara City College, Dr. Moreno was the founding director of the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, one of the leading institutes for entrepreneurship in California, and as the founding Vice President of the School of Extended Learning.

“Having devoted the majority of my career to higher education, I am humbled by the trust bestowed upon me by the Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Melissa Moreno, Interim Chancellor, San Mateo County Community College District. “As the District’s newest caretaker, I will work with our stakeholders and community to ensure that our nationally recognized college district sets the example in our State for progressive and equitable educational opportunities for our most disproportionately impacted student populations that works to remove barriers to their success.”

Dr. Moreno holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Juris Doctorate from Santa Barbara College of Law. She is also licensed to practice law in the state of California.

She will begin as Interim Chancellor on April 1, 2023.

San Mateo, CA (January 13, 2023) – On December 13, 2022, Governing board member Goodman vacated his seat on the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees creating a Board Vacancy for Trustee Area 3. At a Special Board Meeting on December 20, 2022, the San Mateo County Community College District Board took action to fill this vacancy by making a provisional appointment. The appointee will hold office until the next governing board member election, which occurs at the Statewide General Election in November 2024.

The Board approved a timeline and process at a Special Board Meeting on January 10, 2023. According to California Education Code 72103: Any person, regardless of sex, who is 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the state, a resident of the community college, a registered voter, and who is not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office, is eligible to be elected or appointed a member of a governing board of a community college district without further qualifications.

Applications are now being accepted from any eligible person interested in filling this vacancy. Applications are available at: https://smccd.edu/boardoftrustees/board-vacancy.php and must be submitted by Saturday, February 4, 2023. No late applications will be accepted.

All applicants who are eligible will be interviewed at a public Special Board Meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. Following the interviews, the Board will appoint the provisional Board Member, and administer the Oath of Office.

About San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD): The SMCCCD is a three-college district located between San Francisco and San Jose in the Silicon Valley. Our colleges serve more than 20,000 students each year and offer the first two years of instruction in a wide variety of degree and transfer programs, as well as vocational-technical programs.

For more information: https://smccd.edu/

San Mateo, CA (11/23/22) – The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD), announced today the finalists for the District’s chancellor position.  This announcement comes after a national search that fielded a highly qualified and diverse pool of candidates.

A screening committee, comprised of faculty, staff, students, administrators, board members and community representatives held initial interviews with candidates and has recommended the following candidates to the Board of Trustees for consideration:

• Santanu Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D. – currently president at Modesto Junior College in the Yosemite Community College District 
• Bradley Davis, J.D. – currently the Chancellor at West Valley-Mission Community College District 
• Rowena M. Tomaneng, Ed.D. – currently president at San José City College in the San José Evergreen Community College District 

SMCCCD will host three virtual forums to introduce candidates Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, Bradley Davis, and Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng to the public. 

The SMCCCD virtual forums will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Community members are welcome to attend and learn about the candidates. The forums will take place during the following times: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM, and 4 PM – 5 PM via zoom. For more information visit: https://smccd.edu/chancellor-search/SMCCCD%20Chancellor%20Finalist%20Forums.php

Santanu Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.

Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay has had leadership roles in three community colleges: Cypress, Columbia and Modesto Junior College. He currently serves as the President of Modesto Junior College. He previously served as the President of Columbia College within the same District beginning in July 2018. As the Executive Vice President at Cypress College from July 2013 to July 2018, Dr. Bandyopadhyay was responsible for both instructional programs and student services and was involved in leading national initiatives such as “Achieving the Dream” and “Survey of Entering Student Engagement” 

A first-generation immigrant, Dr. Bandyopadhyay earned his MBA and Ph.D. at Ohio University after a successful career in teaching and market research in India. He taught Computer Science at the National Institute of Information Technology.

Bradley Davis, J.D.

Bradley Davis has more than two decades of senior administrative experience in public higher education in California. He is currently in his fourth year as the chancellor of the West Valley-Mission Community College District in Santa Clara County. As chancellor, he oversees a multi-college district that encompasses both West Valley College in Saratoga and Mission College in Santa Clara. Under his leadership, the district has taken steps to waive parking, health services, and childcare costs for students at the two colleges, and recently passed a resolution to waive all tuition and enrollment fees for residents.

Prior to being selected as chancellor, Davis held the position of president at West Valley College for seven years. Mr. Davis holds a juris doctorate from Syracuse University’s College of Law and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gannon University where he lettered in two NCAA Division II sports, baseball, and basketball.

Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, Ed.D.

Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng has over 27 years of administrative and teaching experience in higher education and currently serves as the President of San José City College (SJCC) in the San José Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD). She has worked to develop innovative partnerships that provide academic and career education pathways for the diverse student populations of SJCC and SJCC’s Milpitas Extension. 

Prior to SJCC, Dr. Tomaneng served as President of Berkeley City College (BCC) in the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) and served in multiple administrative roles at De Anza College in the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. She also served as a faculty director and was a 12-year faculty member of English, Intercultural Studies, and Women’s Studies. 

Dr. Tomaneng earned her Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education, Human Rights Concentration from the University of San Francisco, M.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and B.A. in English from the University of California, Irvine.  

About San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD): The SMCCCD is a three-college district located between San Francisco and San Jose in the Silicon Valley. Our colleges serve more than 20,000 students each year and offer the first two years of instruction in a wide variety of degree and transfer programs, as well as vocational-technical programs. 

For more information: https://smccd.edu/  

On September 22, in a ceremony held at Cañada College, students and leaders from throughout San Mateo County rallied in support of Senate Bill 893.

Written as a pilot program for San Mateo County, SB 893 would allow for the San Mateo County Community College District to operate a program that will pay the tuition and enrollment fees for students from underrepresented and marginalized communities. With the Governor’s signing of the bill, SMCCCD will be able to expand its free community college initiative and Promise Scholars Program from its current total of 2,200 students to nearly 6,000 students.

“After meeting with community college leaders in my district, it became clear to me that State action was needed in order to make college accessible to everyone seeking an education in San Mateo County. This is a big idea, and one that I believe SB 893 will address,” said Josh Becker, State Senator (D-Menlo Park). “San Mateo County Community College District advised me that state law requires colleges to charge almost $1,500 per year in tuition and fees for full time students. If the Governor signs SB 893, we will be able to build a bridge and provide opportunities that will help close the achievement gap here in San Mateo County. It is my hope that this bill will help families use community college as a stepping stone to improving their economic mobility and their future.”

No stranger to the concept of free community college, in 2021, SMCCCD’s Board of Trustees invested $6.75 million into developing their initial Free Community College Initiative, and an additional $6 million has been allocated in the District’s 2022-23 budget to implement SB893. Through that investment, SMCCCD has been able to create a dual enrollment program with local high schools, book vouchers, and assists student with basic needs, including food and transportation.

“As a college district, it is our core mission to ensure that every resident of our community has access to educational opportunities,” said Richard Holober, President, San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees. “On behalf of our college district family, I would like to thank Senator Becker for his partnership and willingness to support students in our community who are working to make their dreams a reality.”

The Board of Trustees has embarked on a nationwide search for a new Chancellor to lead the San Mateo County Community College District. The Board has identified a screening committee to lead this search and has published a position announcement and timeline available to the community. Please visit this page for future updates.

The San Mateo County Community College District is seeking community applications for membership on the District’s Educational Housing Corporation Board of Directors.

The District owns and operates 134 housing units at its College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College campuses, which are available to faculty and staff within the District.  Employees are eligible to live in these units for up to seven years and are strongly encouraged to save the money from their reduced rent to apply toward a down payment to buy housing in the area or for future housing needs.  The District also has a second loan program for homebuyers that will supplement the employees’ down payment savings up to $150,000 and a closing cost grant for $1,000.

The Educational Housing Corporation Board of Directors is charged with overseeing the employee housing program and setting policies and managing operations that further the program’s goals of providing affordable housing options to allow for the recruitment and retention of District employees.  The Board serves in a volunteer capacity and is comprised of District stakeholders and community experts.

DESIRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

The District is seeking individuals who have expertise in residential property management/operations, legal and/or financial experience in housing-related issues, or closely related experiences.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Individuals interested in being appointed to the Educational Housing Corporation Board should submit a letter of interest to the District’s Board of Trustees and include:

1. Statement of interest in serving on the Housing Board, including relevant experience.
2. Brief biography/resume of professional work.

For priority consideration, letters of interest should be received by September 2, 2022, via email to baileym@smccd.edu.

QUESTIONS: Contact Mitchell Bailey via email at baileym@smccd.edu or by calling 650-574-6510.

San Mateo County Community College District Chancellor Michael E. Claire has announced that he will retire from his position and from the District in June 2023, at the end of the 2023 academic year.  Claire assumed the role of Chancellor in 2020, after serving for a year as interim chancellor, and the prior 13 years as president of College of San Mateo.

In a letter to the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) employees, Claire explained his plans: “I will have completed a total of 37 years with our District when I retire next year. At a personal level it is the right time for me to step away, spend more time with my family, and pursue other interests in my life.  I also feel that it is the right time for the District.  As chancellor I have focused on steadying the District, maintaining forward progress on important initiatives, and building a new team, all while steering the District through a major pandemic.”

Claire’s history with the SMCCCD began 42 years ago, while a student at Cañada College.  He later went on to be a professor, dean, vice president and college president, all within the SMCCCD, prior to becoming chancellor.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the amazing journey our colleges allowed me to experience,” notes Claire of his career in the District.  “I leave with the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to a place I have called home for over 40 years, but also with the confidence of knowing that our community college district is stronger than it has ever been.”

Claire will continue in his role through June 2023 and the District’s Board of Trustees will hold initial discussions about the search process for a new chancellor at an upcoming meeting.

San Mateo County Community College District Chancellor Michael Claire has announced that he is recommending Kim Lopez as the next president of Cañada College.  The District’s Board of Trustees will take formal action on Lopez’s appointment at their May 11, 2022 meeting.  Ms. Lopez has served as interim president of Cañada College since August 1, 2021. 

“I have had the pleasure of working with Kim Lopez for several years and in several capacities,” said Claire.  “I know her to be a leader of integrity and compassion with values that align to put students first and create a college environment that is equitable, diverse, inclusive and anti-racist. I am confident that she will lead Cañada College into a new era of success and commitment to the community.”

Though serving in a new role at Cañada College, Ms. Lopez is not new to the campus.  She originally joined the college as dean of enrollment services and counseling and later became vice president of student services before moving to College of San Mateo (CSM) in 2017.  At CSM, Ms. Lopez served as vice president of student services and later as acting and interim president following the appointment of then-president Michael Claire as interim and permanent chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District.  Prior to joining the SMCCCD, Ms. Lopez previously served three years as the Assistant Dean of Students at the University of California, San Diego and for two years as the Upward Bound (TRIO) director at the College of Micronesia on the island of Kosrae.  She also worked at the College of the Siskiyous for 13 years as a counselor and student services director.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve Cañada College and our broader community in my new role as president of this great institution,” said Ms. Lopez.  “As a second generation Mexican-American, I know the challenges many of our students face as they work to gain access to a higher education so they can gain economic and social mobility.  I am excited to work with our community to support the students and families who need us and to make Cañada College an indispensable partner of businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies and all groups who support students and higher education.”

Ms. Lopez currently serves on the JobTrain Board of Directors, Chamber San Mateo County Education Committee and as an Executive Team member for Redwood City Together.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in educational counseling from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Ms. Lopez will start her permanent role as president on July 1.  Her selection is subject to approval of a written contract, the terms of which will be available for public review prior to the Board’s meeting on May 11, 2022. 

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) and the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) are jointly announcing a new pathway for SMCCCD students to complete a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at NDNU.

This unique bachelor’s degree completion program will provide a pathway for SMCCCD students who have completed their associate degree for transfer in Business Administration to complete their bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from NDNU in two years.

Starting in January 2022, classes will be offered on the Cañada College campus but available to students at all three of the District’s colleges – Cañada College, College of San Mateo and Skyline College. NDNU will be providing generous financial aid and endowed scholarships for students in this pathway program.

“This is an exciting partnership that will help students take the next step in their career,” said NDNU President Beth Martin. “This program is designed to be flexible and affordable – with classes offered in the evenings and generous scholarships available for qualified students in this program.”

SMCCCD Chancellor Michael Claire added his support for the program: “This partnership will help SMCCCD meet the educational needs of students in our community. Having an affordable, four-year university option for bachelor’s degree completion allows students to pursue their higher education goals without financial barriers and while balancing their family obligations.

We continue to meet our students where they are.”

To meet the needs of the region, NDNU has narrowed its curricular focus, modified existing programs, and is developing new programs, including this new bachelor’s degree completion pathway. This program will complement NDNU’s master’s degree program offerings in Business Administration and Public Administration. The program will be a seamless pathway for SMCCCD students, particularly for those participating in its Promise Scholars program.

For more information on this program, visit: www.ndnu.edu/sbm/degree-completion or email smccd@ndnu.edu.