President

About Palo Verde College

Palo Verde College (PVC) was established on September 15, 1947, as a junior college within the Palo Verde Unified School District and began with just seventeen students. By 1950, enrollment had grown to 250. Today, Palo Verde College serves a diverse student population of over 3,000, preparing for transfer to four-year institutions, entering the workforce, upgrading job skills, or pursuing personal enrichment. With classes held at both the main Blythe campus and the Needles Educational Center, along with the Rising Scholars Program in partnership with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the College continues to be a vital educational resource in the region.

PVC offers over 89 associate degrees and certificate programs, including career and transfer programs. These programs are available online and at facilities throughout Blythe and Needles. The College provides extensive student support services, including academic advising and tutoring, accessibility services, mental health network, and veteran services. PVC's athletic program is part of the Inland Empire Athletic Conference.

Role of the President

The President has strategic and daily operational responsibility for the District. As the face and voice of the College, the President is an inspirational, transparent, and visionary leader, committed to building trust and addressing the following opportunities and challenges:

Academic Excellence and Enrollment
- Enrollment Strategy, Student Success, and Institutional Sustainability: Assess and align college operations to implement strategies that increase enrollment, retention, completion, and long-term institutional sustainability.
- Expand Academic, Workforce, and Career Education: Ensure continued quality and growth of academic, transfer, career and technical education, allied health, and workforce programs while adapting curriculum to meet evolving community and employer needs.

Community Engagement and Outreach
- Community Integration, Trust, and Outreach: Strengthen trust across the District and throughout the region by positioning PVC as a valued educational, workforce, cultural, and economic development partner.

Economic, Community and Workforce Development
- Economic Development and Workforce Alignment: Collaborate with local employers, economic development leaders, correctional education partners, and workforce agencies.
- Community Support and Rural Responsiveness: Understand the history, culture, opportunities, and challenges of the College's rural service area.

Resource Development
- Government and Strategic Partnerships: Advocate for increased and sustained support from local, state, federal, and institutional partners.
- Fiscal Stewardship and Resource Development: Demonstrate strong fiscal leadership.

Shared Governance
- Shared Governance, Collaboration, and Institutional Climate: Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, communication, and shared governance.

Marketing and Visibility
- Marketing and Visibility: Actively promote the College, increase its visibility, strengthen its reputation, and communicate a clear vision for Palo Verde College's future.

Characteristics and Skill Sets of the President
- Visionary and Courageous Leadership
- Mission-Driven Advocate
- Effective and Transparent Communication
- Participatory Governance
- Student Experience
- Strategic Enrollment and Student Success Expertise
- Collaborative and Unifying Leadership
- Innovation, Technology, and Adaptability
- Strategic and Effective Decision Making
- Board and Governance Relations
- Visible, Approachable, and Student-Centered Leadership
- Cultural Appreciation and Rural Community Engagement
- Resource Development
- Team Building
- Partnership Development

Minimum Qualifications

All candidates must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

- Earned master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent
- Five (5) years of senior-level administrative experience in education or a comparable setting, with position reporting directly to a governing body or chief executive officer, and responsibility for a broad operational segment of the organization with significant administrative oversight (e.g., academic affairs, student services, administrative services, or similar)

Preferred Qualifications
- Significant senior level administrative experience in higher education
- Higher education teaching experience at a community college
- Experience working with multiple collective bargaining units
- Clear understanding of the importance of Participatory Governance and the ability to effectively cultivate it
- Experience in a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
- Demonstrated experience to effectively navigate the complexities of the California community college environment or a comparable setting
- An earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution

Application Deadline: July 22, 2026