The Search for MSJC's 8th Superintendent/President

The area provides a diverse geography that includes recreational lakes, mountains, desert and wide-open spaces. MSJC is located about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 50 miles west of Palm Springs. There is freeway access to ocean beaches, skiing and cultural offerings in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange County. Weekend recreational opportunities are a few hours away in Las Vegas, Arizona and nearby mountain resorts. Local theater productions and art galleries provide year-round entertainment, including the famous Ramona Festival and Pageant.

Mt. San Jacinto College proudly serves 1,700 square miles of Southwest Riverside County—one of Southern California's fastest-growing and most dynamic regions—encompassing the communities of Menifee, San Jacinto, Hemet, Temecula, Murrieta, Perris, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Banning, and Beaumont.

Nestled between the mountains, desert, and coast, the region offers year-round sunshine, small-town charm, and convenient access to major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and San Diego. Residents enjoy hiking, biking, wine tasting, skydiving, the arts, and endless outdoor adventures across a landscape defined by lakes, mountains, and wide-open spaces.

Southwest Riverside County's welcoming, active, and diverse communities reflect the same spirit of inclusion and growth that defines MSJC. The college's central locations offer easy freeway access to beaches, ski resorts, and cultural destinations across Southern California. Nearby getaways include Disneyland, Joshua Tree National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Catalina Island, Las Vegas, Arizona, and a variety of local mountains, lakes, and coastal retreats.

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Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) proudly serves a 1,700-square-mile district stretching from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula through multiple campuses and off-site locations. As one of California's 116 community colleges, MSJC enrolls over 30,000 students each academic year and reflects the rich diversity of the region it serves. With 52% of students identifying as Hispanic, MSJC has been federally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) since 2001.

Each year, MSJC offers over 3,600 credit classes across a wide range of transfer, vocational, and technical programs, all taught by expert faculty and supported by dedicated staff committed to student success. In 2025, the college celebrated more than 2,400 associate degree graduates and 300 certificate earners, while nearly 4,000 students transferred to four-year colleges and universities.

MSJC continues to reach new heights in student achievement. Success rates have hit record highs over the past three years, with the 2024–25 academic year achieving a historic 75%, while withdrawal rates have dropped to an all-time low of just under 11%. These trends are consistent across all student populations, including first-time, first-generation, and historically disadvantaged students, reaffirming the college's commitment to equitable outcomes.

The district also proudly serves Veterans and their dependents and supports student-athletes across 12 sports through a strong Athletics program centered at the new 5,000-seat HCN Bank Stadium, part of MSJC's Athletics and Kinesiology program. Beyond academics, students experience a vibrant campus life filled with clubs, leadership opportunities, and activities that enrich their educational journey.

MSJC's mission is to provide accessible, equity-minded education that instills hope, transforms lives, and strengthens communities. The college actively works to remove systemic barriers, promote social and economic mobility, and expand opportunities for all learners.

In 2025, MSJC achieved several significant milestones:

• Earned Carnegie Foundation Designations for Mixed Associate Large, Higher Access, Medium Earnings
• Received full accreditation with commendations through 2032
• Secured national accreditation for its Student Health Centers from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) — placing MSJC among only 48 institutions nationwide and 14 in California to hold this distinction
• Achieved Center Status for the Temecula Valley Campus, adding $2 million in annual funding
• Named a Top Hispanic-Serving Institution by Washington Monthly
• Voted Best Community College by local readers for the third consecutive year

 

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The next Superintendent/President of MSJC is expected to honor the best of the College's traditions and practices, while also challenging the status quo when needed to in order to continue the College's achievement of excellence now and in the future.

The successful candidate should demonstrate their ability and willingness to do the following:

1. Support excellence and innovation in instruction, student services, and all services that result in student success for all, and close the student achievement gap.

2. Ensure MSJC programs are high-quality and meet students' needs through a variety of delivery and pedagogical modes.

3. Address the needs and potential opportunities created by changing demographics and dramatic enrollment growth that the State does not currently fund.

4. Lead the Board of Trustees and the college community as they research, identify, and address the numerous implications (both promising and problematic) of Artificial Intelligence.

5. Continue to maintain a welcoming campus climate and provide a safe learning environment that enables all students to achieve their goals.

6. Encourage, through modeling and accountability, a positive, collaborative work environment where all constituents are valued and respected by others, and where decision-making is transparent.

7. Use strong fiscal acumen to manage existing resources well and to acquire alternative sources of revenue in a time of economic uncertainty.

8. Build on existing partnerships and create new ones in the community that support students and meet the region's workforce needs.

9. Continuously review and update the physical plant needs of all sites, especially of the San Jacinto campus, and ensure that all feasible safety precautions are in place.

10. Oversee and assess the effectiveness of three major locations serving an extraordinarily large geographical area while also considering options related to the future of MSJC as a multi-site college or multi-college district.

11. Provide effective leadership to the Board of Trustees based on communication, trust, engagement, and support through professional development.

12. Navigate the changing federal mandates and guidelines that impact local funding, policies, and practices, and advocate at the local, State, and national levels in support of our mission and our students.

Mission 

• Committed to the mission of a comprehensive community college 
• Makes Student Success the highest priority 
• Responsive to community needs 
• Advocates for the college 

Student-Focus 

• Understands the multiple barriers and needs of students 
• Addresses the achievement gap 
• Supports a robust array of extra-curricular activities, including athletics, fine arts, student government, and student clubs 
• Is accessible and connected to students 

Forward-Thinking 

• Articulates and builds support for a shared vision 
• Strategic thinker and planner 
• Creative and innovative 

Key Management Competencies 

• Oversees multiple complicated projects simultaneously 
• Ensures fair and equitable human resource practices 
• Makes wise fiscal decisions 
• Practices participatory governance 
• Committed to Accountability

Communication Skills 

• Speaks and writes clearly 
• Shares information often, accurately, and consistently 
• Uses multiple means to communicate 
• Provides opportunities to listen to constituencies 
• Open to difficult conversations 
• Willing to confront and resolve conflict 

Personal Attributes 

• Integrity
• Visible 
• Approachable 
• Collaborator 
• Trust-builder 
• Inclusive 
• Compassionate 
• Ethical 
• Respectful of all 
• Unifier 
• Optimistic 
• Sense of humor 

1. Doctorate degree from an accredited institution 

2. Significant senior-level executive experience in a community college 

3. Demonstrated understanding of the teaching and learning process 

4. Demonstrated sensitivity and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic background of community college students, faculty, and staff 

This is a confidential search process. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than March 2, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

To apply go to acctsearches.org and upload your documents.

Candidates will need to have the following information or materials available to complete the application:

1. A letter of application (not to exceed 5 pages) that succinctly addresses the opportunities and challenges identified in the Position Profile and demonstrates how the candidate's experience and professional qualifications prepare them to serve as the Superintendent/President of Mt. San Jacinto College.

2. A current resume including an email address and cellular telephone number.

3. A list of eight references: for example, two to three supervisors, two to three direct reports, and two to three faculty and/or staff members from current and former institutions.

For additional information, nominations, or confidential inquiries please contact: Pamila Fisher, Ed.D., ACCT Search Consultant, at pamilajfisher@gmail.com or 406-570-0516

*An ACCT Search*

All dates below are subject to change.

Date(s)	Milestones
Nov. - Feb.	Active Recruiting by ACCT
Feb. 9	Search Committee Meeting #1 (Training)
March 2	Target Date for receipt of applications
March 6-13	Search Committee reviews applications independently on ACCT web portal
March 17	Search Committee Meeting #2 (Select Semi-finalists)
April 7	Search Committee Meeting #3 (Select Finalists to recommend to the Board)
April 21	Finalists' Public Forums and Campus Tours
April 22	Finalists' Interviews with the Board of Trustees
May 1	Board of Trustees announces new Superintendent/President and start date

More information will be added at a later stage of the search.

November 13, 2025: Presidential Search Progress Report #2

October 17, 2025: MSJC Presidential Search Announcement