President, East Los Angeles College

Overview

President, East Los Angeles College

Invites Applications and Nominations for President, East Los Angeles College. East Los Angeles College (ELAC) is part of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), a large multi-campus system serving residents of numerous cities and communities in Los Angeles County. ELAC is the district’s largest college by enrollment and offers degrees, certificates and transfer pathways, including career/technical education and bachelor’s degree opportunities in some contexts.

Since 1945, ELAC has served a diverse student body with extensive dual enrollment, distance education offerings, and strong ties to the business community. The campus includes the 82-acre Monterey Park site and a developing Southeast Campus, with a Foundation supporting programs and services. ELAC emphasizes equity, transfer to four‑year institutions, workforce development, and lifelong learning in a multicultural urban setting.

ELAC’s mission and goals focus on student success, equity, community engagement, institutional effectiveness, and continuing expansion of facilities and programs.

The President serves as the Chief Executive Officer, reporting to the Chancellor and participating in the Chancellor’s Cabinet. The President provides leadership, advocacy and strategic vision for ELAC, and is responsible for all college operations. Requirements include a strong grounding in academic programs, student services and administrative services, with an understanding of the community college mission (transfer, career/technical education, basic skills, and community service) and the ability to lead within an equity framework.

The next President must demonstrate collaborative leadership across online/remote learning, alignment with California’s funding formulas, implementation of the Guided Pathways framework, AB 705 basic skills implementation, fiscal accountability, and strategic planning for bond projects and technology use. The President will also foster philanthropy and support the Vincent Price Art Museum and related foundations.

ELAC seeks a visionary President with competencies in equity, student access and success; financial and operational accountability; communication, teamwork and relationship-building; leadership; integrity; and community engagement. The President should:

• Embrace ELAC’s diversity and support a safe, inclusive environment for teaching and learning.
• Promote social justice, racial equity and meaningful inclusion for students, employees and the broader community.
• Use data to identify gaps in student outcomes and mobilize improvements.
• Address basic needs beyond academics (food, housing, mental health) and support student success.
• Encourage high-quality innovation in academics and student services.
• Lead with cultural competence and responsiveness; foster an open governance culture and shared governance.
• Demonstrate proactive advocacy, visibility on campus, and effective multi-area leadership.
• Collaborate with collective bargaining units and involve student representation in decision-making.
• Model integrity and ethical leadership; engage with external partners and the ELAC Foundation/Foundation partners.
• Engage with the Vincent Price Art Museum and community-based partnerships.

• Master’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution (completed at time of filing).
• At least one year in a senior leadership position in education, business, industry or government (preferably as a college/university administrator).
• Sensitivity to diverse backgrounds of district faculty, staff and students.

• Doctorate from a regionally accredited institution.
• Five+ years of senior leadership experience with increasing responsibilities; experience as a college president or top executive.
• Leadership in academic affairs, administrative services, instruction and student services.
• Experience developing external and auxiliary fundraising organizations.
• Experience with participatory governance and collective bargaining familiarity.
• Bilingual in Spanish (desirable).

Health:
After…