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Columbia College Presidential Finalists Named, Forums Slated
Columbia College

The Columbia College Presidential Search Committee has selected five finalists in the search for the next President of Columbia College.

The finalists (with most recent position held) include:

Nicole Albo-Lopez, Ed.D.; Interim Vice President, Student Services and Economic and Workforce Development, Los Angeles Harbor College – Los Angeles, CA.

Val Martinez Garcia, M.S.; Vice President of Student Services, West Hills College Lemoore – Lemoore, CA.

Joseph Piazza, Ed.D.; State Supervisor of Career and Technical Education, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Sacramento, CA.

Brian Sanders, Ed.D.; Vice President of Instruction, Columbia College – Sonora, CA.

Lena Tran, Ed.D.; Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation, San Jose City College – San Jose, CA.

The search committee was chaired by Dr. G.H. Javaheripour, who currently serves as the Interim President of Columbia College. Initial interviews were completed and the names of the five finalists have been forwarded to Chancellor Henry Yong and the YCCD Board of Trustees.

Open forums for the finalists are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 10, via Zoom. During the forums, each finalist will be given an opportunity to discuss their preparation for the position, their education, and their leadership philosophy. The meetings will include time for attendees to ask questions in real-time, via Zoom.

All forums will be open to the public and can be accessed from the links provided. The schedule for the candidate forums is as follows:

 

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021

9 a.m., Brian Sanders, Ed.D.

Link to Forum: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/91608677279

Zoom Meeting ID: 916 0867 7279

 

11 a.m., Nicole Albo-Lopez, Ed.D.

Link to Forum: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93435114384

Zoom Meeting ID: 934 3511 4384

 

2 p.m., Val Martinez Garcia, M.S.

Link to Forum: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/91910117513

Zoom Meeting ID: 919 1011 7513

 

Friday, Dec. 10, 2021

9 a.m., Joseph Piazza, Ed.D.

Link to Forum: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/98736353191

Zoom Meeting ID: 987 3635 3191

 

2 p.m., Lena Tran, Ed.D.

Link to Forum: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/94716378348

Zoom Meeting ID: 947 1637 8348

 

Finalist Profiles

Nicole Albo-Lopez, Ed.D.

Dr. Albo-Lopez is currently the Interim Vice President of Student Services, Economic and Workforce Development at Los Angeles Community College District. Her prior work experience at Los Angeles Community College District includes serving as Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of Student Equity and Academic Affairs, and Dean of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development. She also has served as Interim Dean of Instruction, Associate Dean of Instruction and Institutional Integrity, Faculty Chair of the Clinical Dental Assisting Program and also Program Director of the Clinical Dental Assisting Program, all at Rio Salado College. Dr. Albo-Lopez holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, a Masters in Health Professions Education (MHPE) from Midwestern University, and a Certificate in Dental Assisting from Spokane Community College.

 

Val Martinez Garcia, M.S.

Mr. Garcia is currently the Vice President of Student Services at West Hills College Lemoore. His previous work experience includes serving as Vice President of Student Services and Dean of Academic Affairs, both at Porterville College, Associate Dean of Instruction at Taft College, Director of the Kern County Campus at University of La Verne, and Director, GEAR UP at CSU, Bakersfield. Mr. Garcia is working towards an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne. He holds a Master of Science in School Counseling from the University of La Verne, a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of La Verne, and an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology from Bakersfield College.

 

Joseph Piazza, Ed.D.

Dr. Piazza is currently the State Supervisor of Career and Technical Education at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. His previous work experience includes serving as Superintendent Principal at Courtyard Private School, Director of Child Welfare and Attendance at Yuba City Unified School District, at Folsom Cordova Unified School District he served as Coordinator of English Learner Services, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, and School Principal. Additionally, he was Managing Partner of ESP Consulting/Three Qualities Consulting. Dr. Piazza holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Claremont Graduate University, and a Bachelor of Science in Combined Sciences from Santa Clara University.

 

Brian Sanders, Ed.D.

Dr. Sanders is currently the Vice President of Instruction at Columbia College, where he has also served as Interim Vice President of College and Administrative Services. His previous work experience includes serving as Dean of Science, Mathematics and Engineering, and Professor of Mathematics both at Modesto Junior College, and Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics at Modesto Junior College, Skyline and the College of Notre Dame. Dr. Sanders holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Oregon, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences from University of California, Santa Barbara.

 

Lena Tran, Ed.D.

Dr. Tran is currently serving as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation at San Jose City College. Her prior work experience includes serving as Dean of Business and Workforce Development and Interim Dean of Social Science, Humanities, Arts, and Physical Education both at Evergreen Valley College. At the University of California Silicon Valley Extension, she was Director of three departments, Business and Management, Education, and Applied and Natural Sciences. She served as Employment Development Coach at San Jose One-stop/Institution for Business Performance, Co-Founder and Sales and Marketing Director for Viethome Magazine, Business Development Manager for Collabrys, and Business Development Manager at Realtech Systems. Dr. Tran holds an Ed.D. in Organizational and Leadership Development from the University of San Francisco, a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from Seton Hall University, and a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Marketing from Montclair State University.