Dr. Francisco Rodriguez, current president of Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, has been named the new president of MiraCosta College in Oceanside, it was announced Dec. 23.
MiraCosta’s Board of Trustees made the announcement during a special meeting at which the board unanimously approved Rodriguez’s appointment, according to a college news release. Two of the seven trustees were not present to vote, however, the statement noted. Trustees Gloria Carranza and Charles Adams were not available for the meeting but had participated in the hiring process, which included a public forum and closed session interviews of the three candidates.
Rodriguez will assume the post of superintendent/president on March 1, taking over from Dr. Susan Cota, who will continue as MiraCosta’s interim president until Feb. 28. The college district has campuses in Oceanside and Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
“The board was very pleased with the work of the search committee,” MiraCosta board President Greg Post said in the news release. “They chose three extremely well-qualified finalists, and of these three Dr. Rodriguez rose to the top. We are excited to have him lead MiraCosta College.”
Rodriguez’s appointment follows tumult in the college district that led to the resignation of former president Victoria Muñoz Richart. The conflict stemmed from the sale of campus-grown palm trees. Richart’s handling of the controversy led to her June 2007 resignation, in which the district paid out nearly $1.6 million in a settlement.
Rodriguez began his community college career in 1997 at Woodland College in the Yuba Community College District, where he served as associate dean of instruction and student services, and executive dean, according to the MiraCosta announcement. He became the president of Cosumnes River College in 2003. Before beginning his community college career, Rodriguez worked at UC Davis in student affairs for 12 years in various capacities. He holds a doctorate of philosophy in education from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in community development and a bachelor’s degree in Chicano studies, both from the UC Davis.
Rodriguez’s total annual salary will be $256,208, as established using MiraCosta’s academic salary schedule. He will also receive a monthly allowance of $1,300 for expenses related to the position, including transportation, according to the news release.
MiraCosta College has had two interim superintendent/presidents, John Hendrickson and Cota, since Richart’s departure.