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.
MJC PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH UPDATE
No finalist was selected. A new search will be launched in the Fall semester.
YCCD Press Release No. 23.07 - Recruitment process to hire next MJC President ends with no offer made; will resume again in the fall.
FINALIST FORUMS
The search committee has selected four finalists for the position of Modesto Junior College President. The campus community and public were invited to meet the finalists* at open forums scheduled on Tuesday, May 30th (please see below for the schedule and recording link). The forums were held in the YCCD Board Room for in-person attendance with a Zoom option for each finalist.
YCCD Press Release No. 23-06 - 4 Finalists Identified, Public Forums Scheduled in Search for Next MJC President
Candidate Profiles are available by clicking the link on their name below.
The Forum schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, May 30th, in the YCCD Board Room located at 2201 Blum Gum Avenue, Modesto, CA 95358, with a Zoom link Option
| Time | Finalist Name/Profile Link | Alternative Zoom Recording Link | Feedback Form** |
| 9:15 - 10:15 am | Dr. Beatriz Espinoza |
Recording Link Passcode: %j$kg9sb |
Dr. Espinoza Feedback Form |
| 1:10 - 2:10 pm | Mr. Christopher Breitmeyer |
Recording Link Passcode: 3hK.qmf9 |
Mr. Breitmeyer Feedback Form |
| 2:15 - 3:15 pm | Dr. Rafe Edward Trickey, Jr. |
Recording Link Passcode: c0Ds17a@ |
Dr. Trickey Feedback Form |
*NOTE: Dr. Phillip King, finalist in the process has withdrawn from the search
**The Feedback Form will be available until close of business on Tuesday, June 6th
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
The Yosemite Community College District Chancellor and the Presidential Search Committee invite nominations and expressions of interest for the position of President of Modesto Junior College.
The President of Modesto Junior College is responsible for and directs the operation of the institution through subordinate instructional and operational administrators. The President has full authority to administer and manage the College and participates in policy and operational decisions of the District.
Minimum qualifications include:
HOW TO APPLY
Soft Application Deadline is April 28, 2023
All inquiries, expressions of interest, nominations and applications are to be directed
to the search consultant and are strictly confidential. Do not apply via the District's online recruitment portal.
Please send the following to the search consultant no later than April 28, 2023. Electronic transmissions are strongly encouraged.
Search Consultant
Sheila Lehker, President
Cizek Associates, Inc.
Mjc-president@cizekassociates.com
602-553-1066
Modesto Junior College and Yosemite Community College District are EEO/AA institutions and equal opportunity employers of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
POSITION PROFILE
MJC President Position Profile
TIMELINE
Now - April 28, 2023
Advertising and Recruitment Efforts. April 28 is the soft deadline for receipt of
all requested application materials of interested persons. Materials received after
this date cannot be guaranteed full consideration by the Search Committee. The search
firm is involved in the ongoing evaluation and appraisal of the backgrounds of those
who express an interest in the position.
Mid May
Selection of semifinal candidates to be interviewed by the Search Committee. This
is a confidential search process and the identities of those who are interviewed at
this time remain confidential.
End of May
Final Candidate Interviews. Final Candidates visit the College and participate in
a variety of activities inclusive of a Public Forum. Only the identities of Final
Candidates will be made public.
June 14, 2023
Board meeting; Successful Candidate recommended, appointed and announced as appropriate.
July 1, 2023
Desired start of Successful Candidate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is the College using a search firm?
The College is using a search firm for a number of reasons including assistance in identifying and proactively recruiting talented candidates for the President position - especially those candidates who are not currently looking for a new position - and in screening and evaluating potential candidates in partnership with the Search Committee. The search firm also assists with many other aspects of the search process, including the development of the position profile, advertising and recruitment materials, search process timeline, document preparation, assistance to the committee in the execution of its responsibilities, the evaluation of potential candidates, and thorough background and reference checking.
The District has retained Cizek Associates, Inc. as its search consulting firm. Cizek Associates is a national retained executive search and assessment firm headquartered in Phoenix. Serving private and public sector client organizations, the firm has a higher education specialty practice, which is limited to the recruitment of senior level administrators.
All inquiries regarding this search are to be directed to the search firm whose responsibility it is to identify and attract the best possible candidates for the position, respond to all nominations and advertising inquiries, screen and evaluate backgrounds and credentials guided by the position profile, and make recommendations to the Search Committee and the College regarding those candidates best qualified for the President position.
Role of the Search Committee?
The Search Committee's role includes assistance in identifying and encouraging candidates to apply for the position. The Committee selects Semifinal Candidates. The Committee develops Semifinal Candidate interview questions and interviews Semifinalists. The Chancellor of Yosemite Community College District has ultimate hiring authority for the President of Modesto Junior College and negotiates the Successful Candidate's employment contract.
Search Committee Composition?
The Search Committee composition includes those who represent various constituencies of Modesto Junior College and the Yosemite Community College District, including community members. Every possible effort has been made to make sure that the Committee accurately reflects the College community at large.
What will the Search Committee and the search consultant do to ensure a diverse candidate pool?
Modesto Junior College and Cizek Associates are committed to identifying a diverse pool of candidates. Cizek Associates has a rich diversity network, has experience and a strong track record recruiting diverse candidates, and will provide critical access for any successful diversity recruitment effort.
How does someone apply for the position?
The soft application deadline is April 28, 2023. View the Position Profile, then follow the instructions in the Announcement, which discusses all required application information.
How do you nominate someone for the position?
Please get your nominations, recommendations and referrals to the search firm in advance of the application deadline. You may nominate someone for the position by providing his/her name and contact information to the search consultant. The search firm will then contact the individual, discuss the position using the Position Profile as a guide and assess the person as a potential candidate. All nominations will be treated with the level of confidentiality requested by the person offering the nomination, recommendation or referral. This means you can nominate someone anonymously.
How will we know how the search is progressing?
This is a confidential search process. Confidentiality ensures the integrity of the search and provides the search firm the greatest flexibility in attracting the widest range of qualified candidates for the position. Please refer periodically to the Yosemite Community College District/Modesto Junior College website for any updates.
The work of the Search Committee is also confidential and Search Committee members will not be able to share with you details of their meetings and discussions, but will respectfully refer you to this website.
All media inquiries should be directed to:
Kimberly Gibbs
gibbsk@yosemite.edu
209-575-6519
Graciela Molina
molinag@yosemite.edu
209-575-6509
Jeanette Fontana
fontanaj@yosemite.edu
209-575-6986
What opportunities will there be to provide feedback on Final Candidates?
Final Candidate interviews will include a variety of activities and meetings with various constituent groups, including a Public Forum. Feedback Forms will be available and this feedback will be forwarded to the appropriate individuals.
Where is the position being advertised?
The Chronicle of Higher Education - online version only
Inside Higher Ed
EDJOIN
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
ACCCA - Association of California Community College Administrators
HigherEdjobs.com
LinkedIn.com
Indeed.com
National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
CCC Registry
YCCD website
Modesto Junior College website
EEO STATEMENT
The Committee will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information or veteran status when making screening or selection decisions.
It is the policy of Modesto Junior College not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or disability in its educational programs and its employment practices.
The Yosemite Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Yosemite Community College District (Modesto Junior College and Columbia College) not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or disability in its educational programs and its employment practices.
YCCD BP 3410 Nondiscrimination can be found at: https://www.yosemite.edu/trustees/board_policy/3410%20Nondiscrimination.pdf
CONFIDENTIALITY
Committee Members are responsible and accountable for their personal and professional actions as they carry out their search committee assignments.
Information pertaining to the employee selection process is confidential. Discussion of committee deliberations and determinations with anyone other than fellow committee members and authorized administrators is considered professionally unethical. It is recommended that you refer applicant or media inquiries regarding employment processes to the Search Liaison listed below.
NON-RELATIVE ASSOCIATION
Committee members should present any relationship/knowledge of an applicant to the committee for complete disclosure. If by virtue of a current or former friendship or other association with an applicant, a committee member cannot consider all applicants fairly and impartially, the member should not participate in the selection proceedings.
HIRING OF RELATIVES
An employee may not initiate or participate in any institutional decision involving a direct benefit to a member or members of his/her immediate family (Board Policy 7310), including serving as the immediate supervisor. Such involvements include, but are not limited to, participating in recommendations regarding initial employment, retention, or promotion.
SEARCH COMMITTEE
| Name | Title | Representative |
| Chad Redwing | Interim MJC President | Committee Chair |
Constituent Representatives: |
||
| Wendy Byrd | NAACP President and YCCD Retiree | Community Member |
| Iris Carroll | Librarian | YFA |
| Gisele Flores | Professor of Child Development | Academic Senate, Vice President |
| Jacquelyn Forte | Associate Dean of Special Programs | LTAC |
| Ruth Perez Gamboa | MJC Student | ASMJC |
| Dimitri Keriotis | Counselor | YFA President |
| Amy Lovett | Grants Accounting Analyst | CSEA President, Chapter 420 |
| Sarah Mesenhimer | Instructional Support Specialist | CSEA |
| Sabrina Miranda | Executive Assistant | LTAC |
| Aishah Saleh | Professor of Humanities | Academic Senate, President |
| Sarah Schrader | Vice President, MJC Administrative Services | Executive Member |
| Lourdes Uranday | Business Advisor & HR Consultant | Community Member |
ASMJC - Associated Students of Modesto Junior College
CSEA - California School Employees Association
LTAC - Leadership Team Advisory Council
YFA - Yosemite Faculty Association
Search Liaison
Lucy Munoz, Director of Human Resources
Yosemite Community College District
munozl@yosemite.edu
209-575-6506
Search Consultant
Sheila Lehker, President
Cizek Associates, Inc.
sheila@cizekassociates.com
602-553-1066
