One of the oldest community colleges in California, MJC has two main campuses in the city of Modesto and serves more than 18,000 day and evening students each semester.
Located near the city of Sonora in the wooded Sierra Nevada foothills, Columbia College is a primary resource of adult learning for residents throughout the Mother Lode region.
Dr. Lena Tran serves as the Interim Chancellor of the Yosemite Community College District and is a visionary leader in institutional effectiveness, student inclusiveness, and workforce readiness. As President of Columbia College, she secured over $26 million in grants to expand education and career pathways in fields such as Healthcare, IT, Fire, Forestry and Education.
Previously, Dr. Tran served as Dean of Business and Workforce Development and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation at Evergreen Valley College and San Jose City College. There, she developed innovative educational and workforce pathways in Data Science, Healthcare, IoT, and Coding by forging partnerships with leading organizations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, MIT, and UC Berkeley. Her professional experience also includes management positions in global technology firms in New York City and Silicon Valley startups, as well as leadership roles in student affairs, admissions, outreach, and residence life.
Dr. Tran is passionate about empowering others through education, regularly lecturing and presenting on topics including Challenges in Rural Community Colleges, Intercultural Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Ethnic Marketing, and the Vietnamese and Asian American Experience.
She holds an MBA from Seton Hall University and a Doctorate in Education from the University of San Francisco. Her numerous honors include the Aspen Rising President Fellowship, Stanford University Educational Leadership Initiative Award, California Forward Awards, and the John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award. Additionally, she was a Fulbright Scholar honoree and was named one of the "100 Women of Influence" in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
Dr. Tran has served on the boards of East Meets West Foundation, Silicon Valley FACES, and the Educational Opportunity Fund. She also served on the Economic Development Board for Tuolumne and the Columbia Area Advisory Council. She is also the author of Compassionate Vietnamese American CEOs: How Six Entrepreneurs Achieved Bottom-Line Success by Leading with Their Hearts.
