President's Search Pamphlet

The Palo Verde Community College District Board of Trustees invites applications and nominations for the position of Superintendent / President

To be considered for the first screening, submit materials no later than Friday, January, 26, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

The Palo Verde College Board of Trustees seeks candidates for the position of Superintendent/President. This position reports directly to the Board, which is composed of seven publicly elected members and a student representative.

The Board seeks a proven leader who is inclusive, equity minded, innovative, energetic, and committed to student success and academic excellence. The successful candidate is expected to develop and implement a common vision in the best interest of students, faculty, and staff through the participatory governance process.

They must thoroughly understand the role of a comprehensive, diverse community college in a vast economically vibrant region and understand the dynamics of the communities served by the College.

The President is responsible for all operations of the College and assures that the institution is operated in accordance with the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees.

The President provides leadership and advocacy for the College to advance its mission of promoting diverse student learning and success.

The President oversees strategic planning and initiatives; cultivates community, legislative, and College relations; and assures fiscal integrity and responsibility on behalf of the institution.

To carry out the institution's tradition of outstanding service to the Palo Verde Valley, the Board is seeking a leader who:

• will address gaps in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism within the College;
• can articulate and communicate the College's vision and commitment to creating an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist academic and work environment;
• is committed to the comprehensive community college and is dedicated to providing services to a broad range of students with a variety of educational goals;
• has demonstrated strong financial and planning skills including coping with difficult financial periods and issues;
• has demonstrated commitment to and skills in participatory governance; and
• has a proven record of successfully partnering with leaders in government, other educational institutions, and businesses to enhance the learning opportunities for students and meet the needs of the community

Palo Verde College, located on the banks of the Colorado River in the agriculturally fertile Palo Verde Valley, opened its doors in 1947 to 17 students. Over the years the college grew, and in 1999 expanded to include the eastern part of San Bernardino County and the City of Needles. The college offers a wide variety of certificate programs, associate degrees, and transfer programs. Yearly enrollment is approximately 7,000 students (Full and part-time). Palo Verde College is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and proudly offers many programs to serve and support our diverse student body. In addition, the College is committed to serving students who have been impacted by the criminal justice system through education. For over 75 years, Palo Verde College has been committed to providing students the highest qualify instruction that is accessible, affordable, and in step with the changing needs and demands of the communities we serve.

The Board of Trustees consists of seven elected members and one student-elect representative. Five of the elected members represent the Blythe Community, and the remaining two represent Needles.

• Stella Camargo-Styers - President
• Angel Ramirez - Vice President
• George Thomas - Clerk
• Jon McNeil - Trustee
• Brad Arneson - Trustee
• Glenda Williams - Trustee
• Vacant - Trustee
• Albert Martinez - Student Trustee

About the Region: Palo Verde College is located in the City of Blythe at one of the busiest entrance points to California. The college is located in a desert oasis adjacent to the beautiful Colorado River and the Palo Verde Valley. Blythe, and the fertile Palo Verde Valley, is primarily a farming area. Boating, fishing, and hunting attract many tourists. The Palo Verde Valley is centrally located between Phoenix and Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Mexican Border. The valley's climate, with more than 350 days of sunshine and mild winters, attracts thousands of winter visitors every year.

Our Equity Commitment: The district believes that fostering equity and diversity affords the best opportunity to enhance and realize institutional excellence, while preparing those at the center of the institution's mission, the students, to be responsible and culturally competent contributors in an increasingly global society. To properly serve an increasingly diverse population, the District will endeavor to hire and retain a workforce who reflect, are sensitive to, and are knowledgeable of the needs of the constantly changing student body it serves, as well as the diverse campus and District communities.

1. Is student-centered; supports the comprehensive community college mission; understands the complexity of credit, noncredit/adult education and services and the competing priorities of transfer, career technical education, college-readiness skills, noncredit/adult education, and community services offerings; provides proactive and innovative ideas for addressing issues; recognizes and able to manage and support the complexities of delivering instruction and student services within correctional facilities serving the Rising Scholars student population.
2. Knowledge of and leadership experience in higher education with a demonstrated understanding of the complex dynamics of a small rural district including efficient and streamlined processes and procedures in fiscal management, budgetary processes, strategic planning, human resources development, collective bargaining, curriculum and instruction, enrollment management, student services, facilities management, and fundraising.
3. Has strong cultural competency and successful Diversity Equity Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) experience providing and guiding responsive services for students (including the unique needs of the Rising Scholar students), faculty, and staff and those from communities with historically marginalized identities. This includes, but is not limited to: differences in cultural, socio-economic, age, gender, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, and disability status.
4. Understands, appreciates, and follows the principles of shared involvement in the decision- making process, effectively collaborating with stakeholder groups and enhancing a feeling of collegiality, transparency, and shared inquiry.
5. Communicates expectations, delegates, and holds accountable the college executive leadership team.
6. Provides leadership, support, and guidance for the elected board of trustees and assists them in working as a cohesive unit/team.
7. Values student engagement beyond the classroom, including: student leadership development, student government, a student friendly campus atmosphere, and a broad array of extracurricular activities that make for a rich, student-centered college.
8. Understands the needs of the communities served by Palo Verde College and the need to be active and visible in the Blythe and Needles communities, building strong coalitions, working with leaders, local partner K12 school districts, local, state, and national governmental and public agencies, nonprofits and community service organizations, and increasing and enhancing philanthropic support and PVCCD's positive image.
9. Accesses and assimilates information and uses quantitative and qualitative data for decision making, planning, mobilizing resources, and motivating individuals to creatively overcome challenges facing the district and to make continuous improvements in operations, programming, procedures, and services.
10. Knowledge of California and federal laws and regulations governing community colleges and accreditation requirements.

1. Inclusive and approachable and enjoys, and works well with, all individuals and values their contributions to the college.
2. Fair, empathetic, compassionate, kind, respectful.
3. Ethical, honest, trustworthy.
4. Inspirational.
5. Aware of own cultural background and how it influences perceptions, values, and practices and effects and shapes the relationship to students and staff.
6. Holds self, and others, accountable, admits mistakes and learns from them.
7. Possesses strong communication skills, including: respectful and effective listening, encouragement of diverse opinions, ability to lead and facilitate decision-making within shared governance, mediation of conflict, and consensus building.
8. Organized.
9. Sense of humor.
10. Strong, direct, yet open-minded, flexible, rational decision-maker

• To be considered for the first screening, please submit application materials no later than Friday, January 26, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. The position is open until filled.
• Applicants must submit ALL required documents for the application package to be deemed complete. The application packet must contain experience implementing or overseeing programs or policies relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism, preferably in a minority-serving institution such as a Hispanic Serving and/or Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution, throughout the following:
• Online Application
• Cover letter not to exceed five (5) pages
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• College and/or university transcripts showing the awarded/conferred degree
• Out of the country (foreign) transcripts must be evaluated prior to submitting application. Evaluations provided by any service member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Service (NACES) (https://www.naces.org/) are acceptable.
• A list of eight (8) references (letters not required). There must be two references from each of the categories noted below. For each reference, please include a description of the professional relationship; mobile, work, and home phone numbers; and email addresses.
• Two (2) administrators to whom the applicant has reported;
• Two (2) administrators, managers, or directors who report to the applicant;
• Two (2) classifies support staff who report to the applicant; and
• Two (2) professional colleagues.

• A Master's Degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• Senior administrative experience in higher education.
• Sensitivity to, understanding of, and respect for, the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, cultural background, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty, and staff.

• An earned doctorate from an accredited institution.
• Five years experience in a senior administration role at a community college is preferred.
• An understanding of how to deliver an effective community college education in rural California.
• Experience or a demonstrated knowledge of how to deliver community college education in correctional facilities, preferably in California.

The District offers competitive benefits packet including medical, prescription, dental, vision and life insurance for employees and qualified dependents.

Palo Verde Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing an educational environment which affirms and supports diversity in its faculty, staff, and administration, and promoting an environment of inclusion. At Palo Verde College, we value every team member's contribution in achieving the mission of providing excellent educational programs and services that contribute to the success of the students and the vitality of the community we serve. We are looking for individuals who enjoy working collaboratively in an environment of diversity, culture, thinking, and learning.

• The completed applications and supporting materials will be reviewed to ensure that the minimum required qualifications stated in the job announcement are met.
• The screening committee will evaluate the applications to identify candidates who are able to most closely reflect in their submitted documents the Required/Desired qualifications and the Profession and Personal Leadership Qualities described in this position announcement. Candidates will be invited for an initial interview. Based on the interviews, the screening committee will identify and recommend finalists to the Board of Trustees.
• Public forums and final interviews with the Board of Trustees planned for March 2024.
• The appointment of the new Superintendent/President by the Board of Trustees is slated for May 2024 with the assumption of duties to begin on or about July 1, 2024.
• Complete confidentiality will be maintained until the screening committee recommends the finalists to the Board of Trustees. When the finalists are determined, they will be announced publicly.
• Media checks will be conducted prior to the first level interview and full-range reference checks will be conducted on the finalists prior to the reference checking process begins.
• Special Accommodations: If you are in need of special services or facilities due o a disability in order to apply or interview for this opening, please contact Elena Rodriguez from the office of Human Resources at 760.921.5447.

PPL, Inc. has been retained by the Board of Trustees to assist with the facilitation of the search and selection process. Confidential inquiries about the position are welcomed and may be made to:

Lisa Sugimoto, Ed.D.
Vice President, PPL, Inc.
562.972.8983
lsugimoto@pplpros.com

Benjamin Duran, Ed.D.
President, PPL, Inc.
209.761.0534
bduran@pplpros.com

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the application, please contact Elena Rodriguez at elena.rodriguez@paloverde.edu or 760.921.5447.

For complete information about the Palo Verde Community College District, the position, and how to apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/paloverde/jobs/4299329/superintendent-president. Application materials will only be accepted electronically. To be considered for the first screening, please submit application materials no later than Friday, January 26, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. The position is open until filled.