President

Maricopa County Community College District

The Maricopa County Community College District is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative community college systems. The District comprises 10 individually accredited colleges and 31 satellite locations serving over 100,000 students and employing over 10,000 faculty and staff.

Since its founding in 1962, the District has continued to be a critical resource for local communities in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, leading to affordable higher education, particularly for first-generation students and those from diverse backgrounds. The District’s colleges proudly offer over 600 associate degree and certificate programs and began offering baccalaureate degrees in Fall 2023. Its transfer agreements afford more economical and viable options by offering more than 40 university partners, including Arizona’s public state universities, which simplify the process for students wishing to continue their education at a four-year institution.

The Maricopa Community Colleges are a driving force for economic development and prosperity in Arizona due to their partnerships with local, state, and Fortune 500 companies. As a leader in career training in Arizona, the colleges continue to add new programs to reflect the changing industry landscape and create new opportunities for students. They recently added in-demand career programs such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cannabis business training, and unmanned aircraft systems.

With an operating budget exceeding $1 billion, the District continues to have an enormous impact on Arizona’s economic growth and workforce development. For example, in FY 2021-22, MCCCD added $7.9 billion in income to the Maricopa County economy.

Paradise Valley Community College

Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) develops well-rounded, confident, and responsible individuals who aspire to achieve their full potential. There are many reasons that make PVCC an amazing resource for students and the community, including affordability, university transfer, first-rate faculty and staff. Class size, student support services, faculty who are currently working in the industries they teach, and flexibility of programs are also benefits. PVCC’s learning environment emphasizes the inclusion of diverse communities, positive social change, and community engagement. The College primarily serves students in northeastern Maricopa County, including Northeast Phoenix, Cave Creek, Carefree, and North Scottsdale.

PVCC’s two campuses serve a predominantly residential area in northeast Phoenix and northern Maricopa County. The Union Hills Campus is conveniently positioned near the intersection of the Arizona 51 and Loop 101. The Black Mountain Campus is easily accessible off the Carefree Highway between 56th Street and 60th Street. With classes both on campus and online, students can launch their education on their schedule. At either campus, students achieve their goals, create enriching experiences, and build lasting memories. PVCC maintains a variety of academic and vocational programs, including a bachelor’s degree, Transfer Pathways, Athletics, Fine and Performing Arts, and Career and Technical Education Programs.

Paradise Valley Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association. PVCC evaluates all aspects of itself regularly and is scheduled for reaffirmation of accreditation in 2024-2025.

For more than 30 years, PVCC has offered quality educational programs to the communities in which its students live and work. The college prides itself on a learning environment that promotes inclusion, positive social change, and community engagement. As an early adopter of the nationally recognized learning- centered college movement, PVCC offers an active and engaged learning environment, with opportunities for students to enhance their critical, creative, and entrepreneurial thinking, and to apply their learning to meaningful societal issues. The college strives to enrich learning through relevancy and rigor, developing strong leaders and preparing students to have a lasting positive impact in their communities.

Paradise Valley Community College has the feel of a smaller liberal arts college but offers the expertise and programs that span career-technical education, college preparation, adult education, and transfer pathways. Offering associate degrees and certificate programs, PVCC serves about 5,880 credit students and 224 non-credit students per year.

VISION: Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) aspires to be the higher learning organization of choice by creating engaging lifelong educational relationships that inspire and support all learners to increase their capacity for personal growth and positive social change.

MISSION: The Mission of Paradise Valley Community College is to educate the whole person and to serve our students and our community by providing learning opportunities that are designed to help them achieve their goals.

OUR VALUES:

• Integrity - We uphold ethical behavior in all that we do; we value accountability, transparency, fairness, and honesty.
• Diversity - We honor all individuals and their different viewpoints to promote an inclusive campus environment.
• Innovation - We encourage informed risk-taking that enhances student, employee, and organizational learning.
• Partnerships - We are committed to building and sustaining internal and external relationships that enhance learning.
• Excellence - We expect greatness in all that we do to advance student, employee, and organizational success.
  
• Sustainability - We practice organizational, social, economic, and environmental responsibility.
• Wellness - We champion a campus culture that recognizes health and wellness as an integral part of learning by fostering an environment supporting the emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being of all.

As one of Maricopa County’s 10 community colleges, PVCC embraces continuous quality improvement, annually assessing and publishing reports concerning the effectiveness of our programs and services.

Leadership and Governance

Paradise Valley Community College is one of 10 colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District serving the Phoenix Metro Area in Arizona. The district is led by the Interim Chancellor, Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, who serves under the MCCCD Governing Board. The Governing Board has seven members. Two members are elected to at-large positions, and five are elected from geographical districts, each serving staggered four- year terms.

The Paradise Valley Community College President serves on the MCCCD Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet, providing advice and council on districtwide issues. At PVCC, the President serves as the chief executive officer of the college, supported by the President’s Leadership Team that includes the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of Student Affairs, Vice President of Administrative Services, Associate Vice President of Information Technology, Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Director of Public Relations and Marketing, and Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives.

MCCCD believes that governance is the joint responsibility of the Governing Board, the district and local administrations, and the faculty and staff of the colleges. The responsibilities of each are set forth in policy. The district and colleges have faculty associations and professional staff associations which serve as representative bodies for their constituents. The associations participate in the development and implementation of policy, serve on administrative councils and coordinating committees, and serve as arbiters of the professional rights and responsibilities of faculty and staff. The 2023-2024 Faculty Agreement sets out the working conditions for faculty across the district.

Paradise Valley Community College enjoys a collaborative governance process and wide engagement across committees. The college has an active faculty association and professional staff association, and nearly 30 committees. College members also participate in districtwide associations and committees.

PVCC embraces equity, engagement, inclusion, and innovation. As a college community, faculty, staff, and administrators seek to continuously improve the campus culture through diverse identities, expertise, and perspectives. The college is committed to creating engaging relationships that inspire and support all learners to increase their capacity for personal growth and positive social change.

Position Overview

Paradise Valley Community College seeks a student-focused President who has a vision for advancing the College’s capacity to meet the region’s workforce and academic needs. The college president will also create and sustain educational partnerships that enable investments for current and future student successes.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE COLLEGE:

STRATEGIC

• Maintain the College’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and culturally relevant pedagogy.
• Continue to pursue the benefits of the College’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). A Hispanic/Latinx enhancing college produces equitable outcomes for Hispanic/ Latinx students and enacts a culture that is educationally affirming, culturally responsive, and welcoming.
• Increase community/business partnerships to assist in the marketing, outreach, and funding of tuition to keep the cost of education more affordable for students.
  

ENROLLMENT

• Increase enrollment, retention, and outreach for students, staff, and faculty.
• Pursue increased external funding in support of PVCC’s mission.
• Embrace innovation and new program development that better connects PVCC to the community – especially to the industry’s workforce needs.
• Recruit and retain non-traditional (older adult, part-time) students to address recent enrollment declines.
• Develop innovative scheduling to improve student completion through online and in person courses
• Support appropriate programming (credit/ noncredit and lifelong learning opportunities) for each of PVCC’s campuses based on demographics, student/community interests, and industry needs.

STUDENTS

• Establish a pipeline for diverse students to prepare for jobs in area industries and develop pathways for non-traditional students.
• Increase co-curricular activities and resources such as internships, service learning, clubs, and activities to contribute to student success.
• Address students’ needs – especially food insecurity, underemployment, mental health, and childcare.
• Focus on increasing access for underrepresented populations as evidenced by the college community.

EMPLOYEES

• Further develop and implement shared governance practices.
• Invest in staff and faculty development to maintain a collaborative and productive culture that supports PVCC’s vision.

IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CANDIDATE:

Student Focus:

• A student-focused leader who; Is committed to equity and advancing services that support students’ well-being and enhances the overall student experience.
• Has a deep understanding of how areas of student services, academic affairs, and workforce development have the potential to converge and facilitate student success. Relates to the diversity of PVCC’s students.
• Monitors academic and student services programs with an emphasis on quality.
• Works with faculty and staff in developing a plan to assist students with various learning needs to succeed.
  

Leadership:

• A strong, visionary leader with an innovative and open-minded approach and with an enterprising outlook who supports relevant partnerships in support of student success.
• An excellent relator, communicator, and listener who will establish relationships and consider differing points of view from different constituencies.
• A pragmatic leader who makes data-informed decisions and will also take strategic risks.
• A leader who is committed to shared governance and who seeks collaboration with all stakeholders.
• A skilled financial manager who will effectively oversee fiscal processes, pursue new revenue, enhance partnerships, and seek benefits for the college community.
• A systems-thinker who advocates for PVCC while considering multiple perspectives and solutions within MCCCD.
• A leader who practices kindness and compassion, is approachable and present, empathetic, and respectful.
• A leader who balances academic leadership with business acumen.
• A leader who can provide a short-term and long-term vision for PVCC.
• A leader committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion amongst students, faculty, and staff.

Community Oriented:

• A transparent leader who connects with the college community
• An advocate who promotes the value of PVCC among businesses, donors, and political entities to spur greater support for the institution.
• A creative leader who brings the community to the college.
• A community builder – both on and off campus, who is invested in PVCC’s community.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

An earned doctorate from an accredited college or university, four or more years of demonstrated executive leadership experience advancing the organization’s mission, and professional achievements in higher education that demonstrate a commitment to collaboration with faculty, staff, and students.

OR

Doctoral candidate who will achieve degree completion within 12 months of appointment, four or more years of demonstrated executive leadership experience advancing the organization’s mission, and professional achievements in higher education that demonstrate a commitment to collaboration with faculty, staff, and students. Master’s degree required.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• College-level executive leadership in a multi-college district, which includes work as a fiscally astute leader with a proven track record of managing large, challenging, and complex budgets.
• Successful experience leading a college that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to programs, which includes an understanding of the technology used to support learning and college operations.
• Demonstrated experience in improving the recruitment, retention, and success of historically marginalized students, particularly at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) or Minority-Serving Institution (MSI).
• Experience leading institution-wide regional accreditation and obtaining and maintaining programmatic accreditation, including university transfer and Career and Technical Education.
• Proven track record in practicing shared governance.
• Successful experience in developing a diverse workforce for the college and the community.
• Three years of full-time teaching experience, or the equivalent, at the community college level, or a higher-education equivalent.
• A collaborator and educator with experience in building, maintaining, and expanding relationships with K-12 institutions, community organizations, university partners, and other higher education institutions

LEADRSHIP AGENDA

The next president of Paradise Valley Community College will be actively engaged on campus and in the community, comfortable at the policy and operational levels, and committed to promoting the college’s identity and presence within the service area and the region. A strong communicator, the president will be an ethical and transparent leader, accessible to faculty, staff, and students.

The next president will recognize the strengths of PVCC and will honor the college’s history, successes, and traditions in establishing a shared vision of the future. The president will also be a proactive leader, promoting innovation and risk-taking that advance the college’s mission in a period of rapid and diverse economic and social growth in the North Valley. The president will be a systems-thinker, advocating for continuous improvement and efficiency in strategic and operational policies and processes both at the district and college levels in order to maintain a high quality of education.

The president will be a planner and an implementer, proficient in addressing enrollment challenges and changing community and employer needs. They will be a capable thought partner on new revenue models and systems enhancements. The president will also identify and pursue funding opportunities, create new partnerships with external organizations, promote and participate in campus life, and strengthen the identity and focus of the college.

The president will have a long-term commitment to Maricopa County Community College District and to Paradise Valley Community College.