Yuba Community College District chancellor announces finalists for president at Woodland Community College
- Lake County News reports
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Yuba Community College District Chancellor Dr. Shouan Pan has announced the selection of four finalists for the position of Woodland Community College president.
Woodland Community College’s campuses include the Lake County Campus in Clearlake.
During an Oct. 23 listening session with community leaders in Clearlake, Dr. Pan said emphasized the importance of the college president role.
He said a nationwide search yielded 36 applicants, which were narrowed to 11 semifinalists.
The four finalists the district announced Wednesday were recommended to the chancellor by a diverse interview committee made up of faculty, staff and community members.
The Woodland Community College president finalists are, in alphabetical order, Dr. Monica Chahal, Dr. Lizette Navarette, Dr. Brian Sanders and Dr. James Todd.
Candidate forums will be held, in person, on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Faculty, staff, students, and community members are invited to attend these forums to hear directly from each candidate.
Interviews for the candidates will also be conducted on Nov. 14, with a final decision expected soon after. The approval of an employment agreement by the board of trustees will follow.
The anticipated start date for the president is January 2024.
Short biographies of the finalists are below. More detailed biographies and additional information regarding the forums will be posted on the WCC website.
Dr. Monica Chahal
Dr. Monica Chahal is an experienced leader with a career spanning more than three decades in educational institutions, including the California Community College system.
Her work has been defined by her focus on equity, social justice and student success. Her lifelong commitment to students has led to a rewarding career as a classified professional, adjunct and full-time faculty, and administrator at Yuba College, Woodland Community College, and Clovis Community College.
In all these roles, she is most proud to have served alongside and worked collaboratively with others committed to excellence and innovation.
Dr. Lizette Navarette
Dr. Lizette Navarette is a passionate student-centered leader with nearly two decades of experience in higher education and local government.
As executive vice chancellor at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, she leads the Office of Institutional Supports and Success which includes college finance, facilities planning, institutional effectiveness, and government relations.
She is responsible for formulating policies that determine the distribution of over $13 billion in local assistance and capital outlay funds to the state’s 73 community college districts, professional development which advances student success, and coordinating state and federal matters for the system.
From October 2022 to June 2023, Dr. Navarette served as interim deputy chancellor. She previously served as the vice chancellor of College Finance and Facilities Planning and was the first woman to hold that position.
Navarette has also served as the vice president of the Community College League of California, associate director of Regional Relations for the University of California Riverside and as the Youth & Education Coordinator for the city of Riverside.
Dr. Navarette has an extensive history championing student success, affordability and equitable educational opportunities for all students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from UC Riverside, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne and a doctorate in education from UC Davis.
In 2021, Dr. Navarette earned the United Nations Global Education for All award for her research on working adult learners.
Navarette is a proud first-generation graduate.
Dr. Brian Sanders
Dr. Brian Sanders is recognized across California’s community colleges for his leadership, innovation and extensive knowledge of the community college system.
He has served as a tenured mathematics faculty member, dean of a large division, interim chief business officer, and chief instructional officer for both Columbia College and Modesto Junior College.
His service on the executive board for the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers and on statewide Chancellor’s Office committees has resulted in significant improvements for the community colleges.
On campus, he is known as a kind, creative problem-solver, collaborating with all constituent groups to develop and implement effective solutions to difficult challenges.
Dr. James Todd
Dr. James Todd has over 17 years experience working at California community colleges as a faculty member and as an executive administrator in academic and student affairs.
As a faculty member, he taught anthropology, while also serving as academic senate president and as an elected faculty representative on the statewide Executive Committee for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.
His faculty experience fostered a deep commitment to participatory governance, an inclusive style of educational leadership, and student equity and social justice efforts in education.
He is passionate about fostering access and meeting the needs of local communities, facilitating student success and completion, building public and private partnerships, and ensuring equitable post-graduation outcomes for students.
Over the last eight years, Todd has served as an executive administrator. He was the vice president of student services at Modesto Junior College, as well as the assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction and planning at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.
He is currently the assistant superintendent and vice president of student services at Sierra College.
Todd completed Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in cultural anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.