NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The Yuba Community College District’s two-year process to find a new chancellor came to an end on Thursday evening with a unanimous vote of the board of trustees to select their top candidate.

During the board’s regular meeting, its members voted to appoint Dr. Shouan Pan as the district’s next chancellor, approving a three-year employment contract.

“I’m honored,” Pan, who attended the meeting via Zoom, told the board members, adding that he was humbled by their trust and confidence in him.

Pan said he’s looking forward to joining the district and creating a greater impact.

The employment contract the board approved with Pan is for a three-year period from June 2023 to June 2026, with an annual salary of $256,000.

Pan holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Hefei Polytechnic University in China, where he was born and raised.

He came to the United States in 1985, earning a Master of Education degree from Colorado State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education from Iowa State University.

Pan has held leadership positions in colleges across the country, including Broward College-South Campus in Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Community College of Philadelphia, Northern Arizona University, Mesa Community College in Arizona and, most recently, Seattle Colleges in Washington, where he left his post as chancellor in August.

He and three other chancellor candidate finalists — Dr. Beatriz Espinoza, Dr. Eugene Giovannini and Dr. Wei Zhou — were introduced to the college community during forums in Marysville and Woodland earlier this month.

Board members thanked staff, the screening committee and the search firm hired to lead the recruitment.

Trustee Richard Teagarden said it had taken almost two years to get to that point, with hundreds of hours of work.

The Yuba Community College District crosses eight counties and serves an estimated 13,000 students.

The district includes both Yuba College and Woodland Community College, with the Clearlake campus a part of the latter. In addition to Clearlake, there are campuses in Marysville and Woodland, and Colusa and Sutter counties.

Pan will take over from Dr. James L.J. Houpis, who has served as interim chancellor since July 1, 2021, following the departure of Chancellor Dr. Douglas B. Houston, who left the college last year.

Originally, Houpis — selected after a nationwide search — was supposed to serve until June 30, 2022.

However, in November 2021, the district board voted to pause the recruitment process, with proponents of that pause arguing for taking additional time in order to also work through human resources and financial issues.

On Thursday evening, Houpis congratulated Pan, and said he will be blessed to work with an outstanding staff.

Board President Juan Delgado thanked everyone for their work in the chancellor selection process.

Delgado said it took time, but patience is a virtue, and waiting two years to make the hire was the right thing to do.

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