The latest search for the next full-time president at Modesto Junior College is underway. The Search Committee has started reviewing the applications of applicants, it was announced by Dr. Henry Yong, Chancellor of the Yosemite Community College District.

The next step in the process involves a 17-person search committee, which is closely reviewing the candidates with the goal of identifying semi-finalists who will be interviewed in person by mid-November. The semi-finalists will be winnowed to a small group of finalists, who will be invited to Modesto for interviews with the finalist search committee, and participate in public forums that will be held the week of Nov. 27.

The semi-finalist search committee members include:

• Jillian Daly, Dean, Leadership Team Advisory Council Representative

• Gisele Flores, Professor, Academic Senate Representative

• Tracy Gillman, Accounting Analyst, Classified Senate Representative

• Patrick Krebbs, Maintenance Assistant, California School Employees Association Representative

• Lori Marchy, Professor, Yosemite Faculty Association Representative

• Jeffrey Lewis, President/CEO, Legacy Health Endowment, Community Member

• Trevor Stewart, Vice Chancellor, District Administrative Services, Chancellor’s Cabinet

• Damian J. Martinez, Senior Management Consultant, Stanislaus County, Community Member

• Ruth B. Perez Gamboa, Student, Associated Students of Modesto Junior College Representative

• Benjamin Riley, Counselor, Yosemite Faculty Association Representative

• Aishah Saleh, Professor, Academic Senate Representative

• John Scheuber, President of the MJC Foundation Board of Directors, Community Member

• Lisa Schut, Program Assistant, Classified Senate Representative

• Robert Stevenson, Dean, Leadership Team Advisory Council Representative

• Judy Wagner, Senior Administrative Secretary, California School Employees Association Representative

• Jeremiah Williams, Modesto City Councilman, Community Member

• Andrea Wilson, Vice President, Executive Cabinet Representative

The semifinalist search committee – made up of four community members as well as faculty, staff and union representatives – will have an important role in helping to choose the next MJC leader. The committee is co-chaired by Jeffrey Lewis, President and CEO of Legacy Health Endowment in Turlock, and Trevor Stewart, Vice Chancellor for District Administrative Services for the YCCD. A well-known and well-respected member of the community is co-chairing the search “to give a stronger voice to the community in shaping the future of the institution,” Yong said.

The small group of finalists will be interviewed by a final level committee, chaired by the Chancellor. Other members of this committee include the two co-chairs of the semi-finalist search committee; and four additional members of the community; the Interim President of Stan State, and Chancellor of UC Merced, or their designees; Rita Menezes, the Principal of Ceres High School, a feeder high school to MJC; and Bill Mattos, the President of the California Poultry Federation, and long-time resident from the West Side. The top two finalists will have an opportunity to meet the YCCD Board of Trustees in early December, for a Meet-and-Greet, with the goal of announcing by Dec. 13 the next president of MJC. The new leader is expected to take over early in 2024. Dr. Chad Redwing has served as MJC’s interim president since February.

This is the second time this year the district has conducted a search for a full-time president, which has yielded a much larger pool of candidates. No candidate was selected from the prior search.

Yong said that the successful candidate will combine practical higher education administrative experience with a strong vision for Modesto Junior College, which is one of the oldest community colleges in California. The campus celebrated its 100th birthday in 2021.

“We are looking for someone who will be able to take the college forward, increase student completion, increase transfer to four-year universities, and bring in innovation to serve the community,” Yong explained.