Jose A. Gomez Named Interim Pasadena City College Superintendent/President

In a unanimous vote, the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees has chosen educator and administrator Jose A. Gomez, Ph.D., to serve as Interim Superintendent/President of the college.

By News Desk

Dr. Jose Gomez is currently executive vice president, provost, and chief operating officer at California State University, Los Angeles. In his 13 years at Cal State LA, he has led major initiatives to expand opportunities for students, including the university’s downtown campus, the Prison B.A. Graduation Initiative, and the regional collaboration incubator Cal State LA BioSpace.

“Dr. Gomez embodies the excellence and opportunities of community colleges, where he began his education journey as a community college student,” said Sandra Chen Lau, president of the PCC Board of Trustees. “His breadth and depth of experience in higher education and in public policy provide the knowledge to lead PCC in this time of transition.

“His impeccable academic credentials and track record as an innovative, accomplished educator and administrator will serve the college well. As a Pasadena resident and a San Gabriel Valley native, he is a member of our community.”

During Dr. Gomez’s time as provost, Cal State LA’s enrollment and graduation rates have climbed, and the university was named a Champion of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer by the Campaign for College Opportunity. He also established the public-private partnership between the Los Angeles Football Club and Cal State LA to renovate the university’s stadium field and construct a new state-of-the-art professional soccer training and operations facility on campus.

Prior to arriving at Cal State, Dr. Gomez served as higher education adviser to the president pro tem of the California Senate and was also executive director of the California Educational Facilities Authority, where he assisted colleges with more than $1 billion in financing for campus development projects.

As an educator, Dr. Gomez has taught courses at Cal State LA, USC, Chaffey College, and Mt. San Antonio College, where he received the Educator of Distinction Award. His board service includes terms with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the Western Justice Center Foundation, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, The Broad Center, and the advisory board to Teach for America Los Angeles.

Dr. Gomez was raised in the San Gabriel Valley, and as a first-generation college student he attended Mt. San Antonio College and Citrus College before transferring to Cal Poly Pomona. His master’s and doctoral degrees are from the University of Southern California, where he was a Steven B. Sample Presidential Fellow. He received Cal Poly Pomona’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2019.

Dr. Gomez lives in Pasadena with his wife, Catherine, their three children, and two dogs.

Upon approval of his contract, Dr. Gomez is expected to assume the role in mid-July. He will serve during the college’s forthcoming search for a permanent chief executive.