Dr. Luis G. Pedraja, who has served as president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester since 2017, has been named as one of three finalist candidates for superintendent/president of the College of Marin in Kentfield and Indian Valley, California.
The College of Marin Board of Trustees named these finalists in the search to replace Dr. David Wain Coon when he retires at the end of this year. The trustees will conduct interviews with the finalists, which also include Jonathan Eldridge and Kimberlee Messina on Sept. 26.
Following a nationwide search, finalists were recommended to the Board of Trustees by a diverse screening committee made up of faculty, staff, students and community members, according to a press release.
Links to the session recordings will be available on Sept. 29 and posted to the Presidential Search website.
Each finalist visits the Kentfield and Novato (Indian Valley) campuses for a meet and greet, guided tour and public forums. A final hiring decision will be made by the Board of Trustees at a regularly scheduled meeting in October or November. The chosen candidate will take the helm in January of 2024.
Before leading QCC, Pedraja served as interim vice chancellor of academic affairs for the East Bay’s Peralta Community College District and as provost for Antioch University Los Angeles.
As a child, Pedraja emigrated from Cuba and grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Miami. He became the first in his family to attend college, receiving his bachelor’s degree from Stetson University and earning a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. He’s also published several books and numerous articles exploring how understanding language and culture can promote intercultural dialogue and inclusion.
Pedraja’s first leadership roles came at SMU in the 1990s, when he served as a division chair and faculty senator, then moving to Memphis Theological Seminary, where he served as vice president of academic affairs.
Beginning in 2004, Pedraja served as vice president for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. At Middle States, he advanced universal access to quality higher education by overseeing accreditation of community colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region and Puerto Rico.
According to the release, as QCC’s president, Pedraja has provided mission-driven leadership both internally at the college and externally in the community. Internally, he developed and implemented a collaborative and transparent strategic planning process, created community-based learning hubs, and launched several initiatives to bolster student success. His initiatives include partnering with the business community on a mentoring program for students, creating a student success center that provides wraparound support, and launching a comprehensive DEIA Initiative.
Additionally, Pedraja has been a trustee for the United Way, the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, and a large urban hospital.
Editor’s note: Pedraja had not responded to a request for comment at the time of this posting. Check back for updates.
