The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) has selected four finalists for its 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, a board member, and a community representative has recommended the following candidates to the Board of Trustees for consideration:  

• Rudy Besikof, Ed.D., President of Laney College in Oakland 
• Carlos Cortez, Ph.D., former Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District 
• Melissa Moreno, J.D., Interim Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District 
• Thuy Thi Nguyen, J.D., Partner at Garcia, Hernández, Sawhney LLP 

Dr. Besikof previously served as Vice President of Laney College in Oakland. He earned his doctorate as a 2010 graduate of UCLA’s Educational Leadership Program. 

Dr. Cortez previously served as President of San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) He earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a master’s degree from New York University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Southern California. 

Ms. Moreno previously served as the President of Skyline College in San Bruno. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctorate from Santa Barbara College of Law. 

Ms. Nguyen previously served as the President of Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Yale University and a Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law. 

Finalists will participate in prerecorded moderated forums that will be posted to the SMCCCD website by the end of the day on Friday, March 15.  These forums will allow the finalists to introduce themselves, share their vision and priorities, and respond to questions gathered from the campus community, including Academic Senate, Classified Senate, and Associated Students. Faculty, classified staff, administrators, students, and the public are invited to watch the forums and provide feedback on the finalists during the week of March 18. Forum recordings and feedback forms will be available until 11:59 pm on Friday, March 22. 

The SMCCCD Chancellor is responsible for all operations in a district with a nearly $500 million annual budget. The Chancellor oversees Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College; assures that the District is administered in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of Trustees and state and federal regulations; and maintains a close working relationship with the community, K-12 and local higher-education systems, as well as local, state and federal officials. 

View finalist bios and more information about the search process at the Chancellor Search website. 

Officials look to understand influences on uptick for future sustained growth

By Sierra Lopez
The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

The San Mateo County Community College District surpassed its enrollment goal this fall semester and trustees are now eager to understand what enabled that growth so it can be harnessed moving forward.

“Whenever we have a success like this we need to completely celebrate it but then also be mindful to understand what is it we did that really made that difference, and is that what needs to be done next or is there another shift or change that needs to be made,” board President Lisa Petrides said during a Board of Trustees meeting Oct. 25.

After years of enrollment declines, the district saw a 16% uptick in local students signing up for courses in the fall, according to data presented by Dr. Aaron McVean, vice chancellor of Educational Services and Planning. That increase does not include international students or dual-enrollment high school students.

Officials had initially expected to see a 15% increase in enrollment, or about 16,000 students in classrooms after enrollment also grew by 10% this spring compared to the spring of 2022. Both upticks in enrollment follow about a decade of concerning local and statewide dips.

McVean also highlighted other positive trends. The district saw a substantial increase in first-time students including the largest incoming Promise Scholars cohort in the program’s history.

The district saw a significant decrease in the number of students who have not declared their intent to earn a certificate, degree or transfer with a degree, also known as an “ACE” goal. By declaring a goal, students are provided access to more financial assistance and counseling services.

“To see such large increases in students connected to that goal means that they’re connected now to our programs and services and we hope that we will be able to see them through completion,” McVean said.

Increasing enrollment has been a specific focus for the district in recent years. It’s begun expanding its footprint into the coastside to encourage students to enroll in courses who may struggle to get to existing campuses. Officials also tapped the marketing firm VisionPoint Marketing for assistance with planning near- and long-term strategies for improving enrollment.

The district is also one of a few in the state piloting a free college program following the approval of Senate Bill 893. The bill took effect at the start of this year and allows the district to waive and use unrestricted funds to cover a state-mandatory $46 per unit enrollment fee for county residents.

Trustees are now eager to understand which of the recent changes or interventions have had an influence on improved enrollment. McVean said staff has planned to survey students soon but theorized reduced cost barriers were a major boost to enrollment.

Understanding the influence of each intervention would enable the district to further focus outreach efforts, trustees noted. The district does currently focus on target groups including the Filipino community, other minority groups, and those living in underserved communities but board Vice President John Pimentel noted enrollment among Black and Pacific Islander residents was extremely low, totaling just 243 students.

“There’s still a lot of opportunity and a lot of work for us to do with everything that we have been starting to do in a much more aggressive way,” Pimentel said. “Now is the time to really double down on that and hopefully that will improve these numbers for the fall even further.”

The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) is seeking members of the public to serve as directors on the Educational Housing Corporation Board. The Board seeks to advance education by supporting SMCCCD in its efforts to attract and retain qualified educational employees by managing and operating affordable housing for such employees. 

Applications are now being accepted from any eligible person, 18 years or older, interested in filling a vacancy. Individuals with professional expertise in residential property management/operations, legal and/or financial experience in housing-related issues, or closely related experiences are encouraged to apply. The application form is available at the SMCCCD Educational Housing Corporation Board website and must be submitted by midnight, October 6, 2023. 

Applications will be reviewed at the next public Educational Housing Corporation Board meeting on October 19 at 3:00 pm. Following the review, the Educational Housing Corporation Board of Directors will submit recommendations to the SMCCCD Trustees for final appointments during their regular public Board of Trustees meeting on October 25 at 6:00 pm. 

Educational Housing Corporation Board Directors serve staggered four-year terms and may serve a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms. At least two, but not more than four, vacant positions are currently open.  

About the SMCCCD Employee Housing Program: In response to regional housing costs that are among the highest in the country, SMCCCD has undertaken initiatives to assist faculty and staff with high housing expenses. The District owns and operates 134 housing units at College of San Mateo, Cañada College, and Skyline College campuses, available to faculty and staff (who meet the definition of first-time homebuyers). Employees can live in these units for up to seven years and pay rent well below market rate.  Residents of the employee housing program are strongly encouraged to save the money from their reduced rent to apply toward a down payment to buy housing in the area.   

About San Mateo County Community College District: The SMCCCD is a three-college district located between San Francisco and San Jose in the Silicon Valley. The District’s three colleges, Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College, serve more than 28,000 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, 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.”

You are invited to a community celebration in support of Free Community College in San Mateo County, through Senate Bill 893, which is authored by Sen. Josh Becker and co-authored by Assemblymembers Kevin Mullin and Marc Berman.

This bill has been passed by both chambers of the California Legislature and awaits the Governor’s signature.

SB 893 will allow the San Mateo County Community College District to use its existing local funds to pay for enrollment fees, books, educational materials and supplies, and basic needs costs such as transportation, food and housing for students most in need.  Current law restricts the use of general fund dollars for such items, and SB 893 will make college more accessible and affordable in San Mateo County.

DATE:               Thursday, September 22, 2022

TIME:                 11:00 a.m.

LOCATION:       Cañada College | 4200 Farm Hill Blvd. | Redwood City, CA | Outdoors at the Amphitheatre (Between Bldgs. 3, 9 and 13)

Parking:         Lots 2, 5 and 6

Please RSVP at this link or by emailing Candice Bell at bellc@smccd.edu.