MiraCosta College President Is Appointed Chancellor of L.A. Community College District

A San Diego college district president has been appointed chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District, officials announced today.

The Los Angeles Community College District board voted unanimously Wednesday to offer the job to Francisco Rodriguez, who now serves as the superintendent and president of the MiraCosta Community College District.

"After a thorough and exhaustive national search, we are confident that we have picked the person best qualified to lead our district," LACCD board president Miguel Santiago said.

Rodriguez's "dedication to education, devotion to students and strong leadership qualities will serve us well," Santiago said.

The recruitment and selection process took 10 months, officials said.

The board will take another vote on the appointment of Rodriguez at its March 26 meeting to formalize the appointment.

Officials expect Rodriguez to begin his tenure as LACCD's chancellor on June 1.

Rodriguez, 51, has a nearly 30-year career in higher education, spending the last five years running the MiraCosta Community College District in Oceanside, officials said.

LACCD officials said Rodriguez was instrumental in resolving the MiraCosta district's accreditation and financial problems.

Rodriguez earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from UC Davis and a doctorate in education from Oregon State University.

—City News Service