A Community College that Is ‘Back on Track’ [Opinion]

As my term as Chair of the College of the Desert Board of Trustees has come to a close, I have had the opportunity to reflect on where this institution stands—and where it is headed. I do so with complete confidence.

At a time when higher education is often discussed through the lens of uncertainty, College of the Desert tells a different story. It is a story of returned stability, disciplined leadership, and a clear commitment to serving students and the Coachella Valley. That stability did not happen by chance. It is the result of responsible governance, thoughtful planning, strong and stable leadership, quality faculty and staff and an unwavering focus on the college’s public mission.

Over the past year, the Board worked closely with college leadership to ensure continuity at a pivotal moment. We successfully completed a national search and restored permanent presidential leadership. Accreditation was reaffirmed, with recognition of strong Board engagement and student-centered planning. Financial stewardship remained a priority, even as the college continued to expand access and invest in student success.

In short, College of the Desert is on solid footing—financially, academically, and institutionally.

That footing is visible across the valley. In Palm Springs, steel is rising at the future Palm Springs Campus, turning a vision decades in the making into reality. In Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and Mecca/Thermal, expanded facilities and services are bringing education closer to where students live and work.

These projects are not about buildings alone. They are about signaling permanence, access, and opportunity. They tell students—especially first-generation students and working families—that higher education belongs here, and that they belong in it.

Just as important as physical expansion is what is happening inside our classrooms and programs.

Enrollment has rebounded beyond pre-pandemic levels. Dual enrollment continues to grow, strengthening early college pathways. More students are completing transfer-level math and English in their first year. Workforce programs are aligned with real regional needs—from healthcare and public safety to automotive technology, digital media, and emerging AI-enabled fields.

As a trustee, I am especially proud of the college’s work to ensure that access is matched with support.

Students cannot succeed if they are forced to choose between food and class, housing and graduation. That reality has guided the Board’s support for expanded basic needs services, emergency aid, and mental health resources. It also informed one of the most consequential decisions of the year: the launch of plEDGE for All.

Beginning in Fall 2026, College of the Desert will begin phasing in a tuition-free and wraparound support promise for all students—not only recent high school graduates, but returning adults, career-technical students, and members of the local workforce seeking to advance or retrain.

This commitment builds on more than a decade of success with the original plEDGE program under my leadership. It reflects a principle the Board has long held: access without support is not enough, and affordability is fundamental to completion.
The work is guided by four clear priorities—Access, Basic Needs, Enrollment, and Engagement. These are not slogans. They are governance commitments that shape policy decisions, resource allocation, and long-term planning.

Even as California faces fiscal uncertainty and higher education navigates increasing complexity, College of the Desert has remained focused and prepared. Reserves have been strengthened. Long-term liabilities reduced. Planning remains disciplined and transparent.
As the outgoing Board Chair, my responsibility has been to work with the full board and management to ensure that the institution is stable, accountable, and positioned for the future—regardless of who occupies any one role. As I stepped away from this position, I am confident that those conditions are firmly in place.

College of the Desert is well positioned for the work ahead. It is guided by its mission, strengthened by responsible stewardship, and supported by a community that understands the value of access to higher education.

This is a college the Coachella Valley can trust and invest in—today and for generations to come.
Once a roadrunner, always a roadrunner!

 

Photo courtesy of College of the Desert