Search Begins For New CoCo Community College District Chancellor

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board has officially begun a search for its next district chancellor. The search comes after the July retirement announcement of Dr. Fred Wood whose last day with the district is March 31.

"The board is committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search that will attract a strong pool of outstanding candidates for this opportunity," according to a district press release.

Collaborative Brain Trust and Dr. Brice Harris, a longtime California community college educator and Chancellor Emeritus of the California Community Colleges, will assist in the search.

The goal is to complete the search process and announce the new chancellor in April 2020, with a start date of June 1-July 1, 2020, the district said.

Wood joined the district in 2017 and is credited with bringing stability during a time of enrollment challenges and significant changes in the funding formula for California community colleges.

"After considerable and thoughtful deliberations, I have decided to retire after a four-decade career in higher education due to increased personal obligations and because I firmly believe the district is ready for new leadership," Wood said in his retirement statement. "Although there is never a perfect time for a leadership transition, the district is in a great place with a very strong financial position, stabilized enrollment, and doing a tremendous job of serving our students and community."

The district is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon.