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Cañada College interim president Kim Lopez will officially be appointed president, starting her permanent role in July, according to a news release from the college district.
Lopez has served as the college’s interim president since August 2021.
San Mateo County Community College District chancellor Michael Claire announced his recommendation on Tuesday and the district’s board of trustees will take formal action on the appointment at their May 11 meeting.
Lopez initially joined the college as dean of enrollment services and counseling and became vice-president of student services until 2017.
She then served as College of San Mateo’s vice-president of student services and later as acting and interim president following Claire’s appointment as chancellor.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Kim Lopez for several years and in several capacities,” said Claire. “I know her to be a leader of integrity and compassion with values that align to put students first and create a college environment that is equitable, diverse, inclusive and anti-racist."
Claire said he's confident Lopez will lead Cañada College into a new era of success and commitment to the community.
She previously served as the assistant dean of students at the University of California, San Diego for three years and Upward Bound (TRIO) director at the College of Micronesia for two years.
She also worked at the College of the Siskiyous for 13 years as a counselor and student services director.
“As a second generation Mexican-American, I know the challenges many of our students face as they work to gain access to a higher education so they can gain economic and social mobility,” Lopez said in a news release.
Lopez currently serves on the JobTrain board of directors, Chamber San Mateo County education committee and as an executive team member for Redwood City Together.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in educational counseling from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
The selection is subject to approval of a written contract, the terms of which will be available for public review prior to the board’s meeting on May 11.
