San Diego Community College District

The search for the San Diego Community College District’s (SDCCD) next chancellor has been narrowed to four candidates with strong credentials in community college leadership.

The finalists include: Barbara Kavalier, Ph.D., President of St. Charles Community College in St. Charles, MO; Lee Lambert, J.D., Chancellor of Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ; Pamela Luster, Ed.D., President of San Diego Mesa College; and Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Ph.D., President of the San Diego College of Continuing Education.

Dr. Kavalier, previously served as District President of Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX; a Master of Science in Business and Human Relations from Amberton University in Garland, TX; a Bachelor of Science in Education and English from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX; and an Associate of Arts and Sciences from Dallas County Community College District in Dallas, TX.

Mr. Lambert previously served as President of Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, WA. He earned a Juris Doctor from Seattle University in Seattle, WA; and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.

Dr. Luster previously served as Interim Vice President of Academic Services/Permanent Vice President of Student Services at Las Positas College in Livermore, CA. She earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA; and a Master of Arts in Education: Speech Pathology and Audiology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology from San Jose State University in San Jose, CA.

Dr. Turner Cortez previously served as Vice President of Instruction at Berkeley City College in Berkeley, CA. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA; a Master of Arts in African American Women’s History from New York University in New York, NY; and a Bachelor Arts in African American Women’s History from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

The finalists were selected as part of a national search by the SDCCD Board of Trustees to replace Dr. Constance M. Carroll, who is retiring in June after serving 17 years as chancellor. The Board is aiming to make a final selection and announce the new chancellor in late March with the goal of having the new chancellor start July 1.

Next, however, the finalists will participate in open forums. Separate public forums will take place virtually the week of February 22 for each of the four candidates. Faculty, administrators, staff, students, and the public are invited to participate in the virtual public forums. More information is expected to be announced soon, including links to view the forums.

The SDCCD chancellor is responsible for all operations in a district that is the largest provider of workforce training and education in the region with a $780-million annual budget. The chancellor oversees San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, a baccalaureate program at Mesa College, and the San Diego College of Continuing Education; assures that the district is administered in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of Trustees and state and federal regulations; and maintains a close working relationship with the community, K-12 and local higher-education systems, as well as local, state and federal officials.

More information on the chancellor search process.