Riverside Community College District Chancellor Gregory W. Gray today announced the appointment of Paul Parnell, Ph.D., and Sandra L. Mayo, Ed.D., as the next presidents of Norco College and Moreno Valley College.
Gray made the recommendation at the regular Board of Trustees meeting. He described Parnell and Mayo as “impressive community college leaders who I believe will be an excellent match for our colleges and the communities we serve.” The Board unanimously approved the appointments.
Gray commended the presidential search committees for their work. “We were fortunate to have an outstanding mix of faculty, staff, students and community leaders participate in this process. Our recruitment efforts attracted strong candidates and our search committees conducted the process in a very professional and open manner.”
Parnell, who will head Norco College, is vice president of Academic Affairs at the 28,000-student Rio Hondo College in Whittier, he oversees 200 full-time and 500 adjunct faculty teaching in more than 40 disciplines. He is responsible for an $80 million budget and 10 instructional divisions, and has responsibility for several local bond construction projects. Prior to his time at Rio Hondo, Parnell served for 10 years as dean of Social & Behavioral Sciences at Chaffey College, and as a program director and associate dean at two Washington State community colleges. A 22-year Air Force veteran, he served as an officer and as director of several USAF programs encompassing academics, rehabilitation and training areas. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and has an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from Ball State University and a Ph.D. in Education, Psychology and Community College Studies from Oregon State University.
Mayo, tapped to lead Moreno Valley College, is vice president of Academic Affairs at the 19,000-student Los Angeles Valley College where she oversees 208 full-time and 270 adjunct faculty, and is responsible for curriculum evaluation and development, community services programs, instructional support services, library services, and long-rang planning. Before going to LAVC, she served for five years as dean of Business, Mathematics and Sciences at Santiago Canyon College, and as Director of the Program Accelerated College Education and Weekend College at LAVC from 1997-2002. Her career includes more than 12 years teaching high school mathematics and science and 10 years as a community college mathematics instructor. Mayo earned her B.A. from UC Riverside, her M.S. in Applied Mathematics from West Coast University, and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Higher Education from the University of Southern California.
Parnell and Mayo are expected to assume their new duties on July 1, 2012.
“Given the ongoing California budget issues and the impact on funding for community colleges, the next months and years will be critical for our students and colleges,” Gray said. “We have been very fortunate with the quality of the individuals who served as interim presidents of the Moreno Valley and Norco colleges. We are ready to move forward with stable leadership in place as we increase efforts to maintain excellence and serve our communities.”