San Joaquin Delta College Board of Trustees has entered into contract discussions with Dr. Omid Pourzanjani to become the next District Superintendent/President. The projected starting date for the new Superintendent/President is before the beginning of Fall Semester 2019.
Dr. Pourzanjani has served students for over 35 years at various higher education institutions in California. Much of this experience has come from his nearly 25-year tenure at Golden West College in Southern California. He has held positions as Professor, Academic Senate Officer, Department Chair, Instructional Dean and Accreditation Liaison Officer, as well as the Vice President of Instruction and Student Learning. He is currently a visiting Vice Chancellor at the California Community College Chancellor’s office where he is heading up efforts to improve access and success for students through the statewide Guided Pathways Initiative.
“The Board of Trustees is delighted to welcome Dr. Pourzanjani to the Delta College family and we look forward to a productive partnership in the years to come,” said Dr. Catherine Mathis, Board President.
As an immigrant, an ESL student, and a first-generation college student, Dr. Pourzanjani understands the challenges students face and is committed to helping them achieve their educational goals. The ideas of equity, diversity, and inclusion are core to his beliefs and he is passionate about making college education and college life accessible for all students. He is a visionary leader with a demonstrated commitment to the comprehensive mission of community colleges, a strong commitment to participatory governance, and an inclusive and open leadership style. His continued success as an educational leader has been founded on building strong relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators, board members, community members, and policymakers.
Concurrent to his work in higher education, Dr. Pourzanjani worked for 15 years in various executive leadership positions in high-tech private industry focusing on innovation, organizational efficiency, and effective budget management. Dr. Pourzanjani is a graduate of a California Santa Monica Community College, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Computer Science and Engineering, and a doctorate in Education from UCLA.