June 17, 2005

Rosa Perez to lead SJECC district

The San Jose/Evergreen Community College board of trustees recently announced that they have chosen Rosa Perez to lead the two-college district. 

Perez was selected after a national search, several rounds of interviews and forums with district staff and faculty and interviews with the district’s Governing Board. She will begin serving as chancellor of the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District effective Aug. 1.

Rosa Perez

“I am deeply honored to have been selected to lead a district that has a genuine commitment to deliver public higher education as a vehicle for social justice and as a means to establish a respectful, pluralistic society,” said Perez.

“Through strong, responsive workforce development programs, school partnerships, university transfer preparation and a full range of basic skills, the SJECCD will continue to provide students with meaningful, quality educational opportunities for themselves and the betterment of our society,” she continued. “This is a bold, visionary district, and I am very proud to serve its board and this community.”

Perez has been president at Cañada College in Redwood City, Calif., since July of 1999. She was the first Latina president of any of the three colleges in the San Mateo County Community College District.

She has served as a vice president at City College of San Francisco, Santiago Canyon College in Orange County and at Chabot College in Hayward. She also served as vice chancellor in the San Francisco Community College District.

Perez has written opinion pieces for local newspapers, frequently appeared on television and was named one of the outstanding Bay Area Hispanics by KGO-TV. She was also named “Woman of the Year” for California’s 11th senate district. Throughout her career, she has been acknowledged as a leader in the field of multiculturalism and student rights.

At Cañada College, Perez earned a reputation as one of California’s leading innovators in higher education delivery.
Her achievements include:

- Successfully negotiated a partnership between San Francisco State University, Sequoia Health Care District and Cañada College to provide a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the college

- Established a University Center on campus where approximately 1,000 students are currently enrolled in programs offered by state universities

- Developed partnerships with public school districts, businesses, local government and philanthropic institutions

- Increased the Latino student population at Cañada College to nearly 45 percent and earned the college the distinction of being the only Hispanic Serving Institution in the Bay Area, which in turn helped qualify the college for federal grants.

Perez replaces interim chancellor, Michael Hill, who will return to his regular position as vice chancellor of administrative services for the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District office in San Jose.

SJECC district board of trustees President Ron Lind looks forward to a bright future under the stewardship of Perez.

“Rosa was an easy choice for us, because she is an excellent fit for our district,” said Lind. “Her remarkable educational career has been highlighted by community involvement, consensus building around difficult issues and a strong commitment to student success. She is a dynamic and visionary leader who will be a force for positive change at our campuses for years to come.”

Born in San Francisco, Perez learned English as a second language and was the first in her family to graduate from high school. She was educated in the community college system at City College of San Francisco before earning her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her master’s degree from the University of San Francisco.