The Southwestern Community College District governing board is conducting a national search for their next superintendent-president.
The advisory committee will begin holding interviews during the first week of December.
The first round of interviews will utilize questions submitted by employee affinity groups as well as community members.
Candidate interviews will be recorded and made available for online viewing from Dec. 9-12 so interested parties can provide feedback to the hiring committee.
Final interviews will be held from Dec. 15 onward so a new leader is chosen by year’s end.
Southwestern College Governing Board President Nora Vargas said hiring the
Superintendent-President is “the most important job for our governing board”. She and board trustee Roberto Alcantar are co-chairing the search committee.
According to a Southwestern media statement, retiring Superintendent-President Kindred Murillo focused on campus culture change before students shifted to online courses in an effort to remain physically distant through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Dr. Murillo has guided our college through incredible organizational and culture change that has focused on accountability, deconstructing institutional racism and improving student success and achievement,” said Vargas.
Vargas said the retiring leader leaves big shoes to fill.
“Southwestern College has been working tirelessly and intentionally to strengthen the climate of our campuses so that everyone feels they belong. To continue this important work, this board is committed to hiring a new Superintendent-President who embodies these values and will ensure Southwestern College continues to be an inclusive, equitable college for all,” Vargas said.
The next superintendent-president will not only have to pick up where Murillo left off in her work to affect campus culture change but also face an unprecedented budget crisis as the state grapples with the economic impact of COVID-19.
When the pandemic arrived in San Diego, Southwestern was the first community college in the region to transition its spring 2020 instruction and business operations to remote operations to help reduce spread of the virus.
Administrators distributed more than 1,000 computers and Wi-Fi hotspots to students in an effort to facilitate their continued learning and employees received a technology stipend to assist them in transitioning lessons online.
As the only public institution of higher education in southern San Diego County, Southwestern College serves approximately 400,000 residents from Bonita, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City, Nestor, Otay Mesa and other communities in the South Bay area.
Potential superintendent-president candidates can find more information at www.jobs.swccd.edu
The deadline to apply for the position is Thursday, Nov. 19.
