Francisco Rodriguez

Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., is the Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the largest community college district in the nation with nine, accredited colleges, over 230,000 student enrollments, and an annual budget of $5.8 billion serving nearly 900 square miles of Los Angeles County.

Appointed in 2014, Dr. Rodriguez has raised the District's profile and built a reputation as an outstanding urban community college district in the nation to study and work.  Dr. Rodriguez has charted a course that includes well-prepared, diverse and innovative faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and instructional equipment, superbly trained and professional support staff, and enhanced business and community engagement.  During his tenure, Chancellor Rodriguez led the efforts for a taxpayer-approved $3.3 billion local facilities bond in 2016 and the hiring of close to 600 full-time, tenure-track faculty.  He was a principal architect for the statewide California Promise Program, which was the result of LACCD-sponsored legislation with Assemblymember Miguel Santiago that provides all first-time, full-time Californian students with two years of tuition-free education at any of the state’s community colleges.

From 2003 to 2014, Dr. Rodriguez served as the Cosumnes River College President in Sacramento, California, and as the Superintendent/President of the MiraCosta Community College District, in San Diego.  His leadership at both institutions was marked by increased student enrollments, racial and gender diversification of faculty, students and administration, increased support for student success and institutional equity, increased grants and endowments, and robust university, business and community engagement.

A noted scholar, practitioner and educator-activist, Dr. Rodriguez has 30-plus years of experience as an educator, faculty member, and administrator within California public higher education.  Dr. Rodriguez has dedicated his career to high-quality public education and championing equity and inclusion, diversity, and outreach to under-resourced communities.  In particular, Dr. Rodriguez has focused his career on educational policies that expand access to higher education and financial aid, advocacy for undocumented and low-income students and students with disabilities, and a keen focus on the leadership development of Latino and African American males.  He frequently speaks on the importance of higher education, equity and leadership, ethnic studies, student access and success, governance and governing boards, workforce development, fundraising and philanthropy, and civic participation.