Dr. Lisa Sugimoto Named PCC President on Interim Basis

The Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees voted to remove the “interim” designation from the title of Dr. Lisa A. Sugimoto, who had been serving as the institution’s interim president since September 16. The announcement was made during the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Sugimoto will serve as president of PCC until her contract is completed on June 30, 2010, or until a permanent president is selected. 

She had previously served as vice president of Student and Learning Services since 2003, overseeing the areas of Admissions and Records; Counseling and Career Services; Extended Opportunity Programs and Services; the Learning Assistance Center; the New Media Center; Outreach, Degree and Transfer Services; Scholarships and Financial Aid; and Special Services.

Sugimoto started her 33-year career in community colleges at PCC in 1976 as a part-time support staff member and became a counselor in 1977.  During this span, Sugimoto taught the peer advising course, accounting/bookkeeping, and finite business mathematics. Before joining PCC in her present capacity, Sugimoto spent 14 years as dean of counseling, Student Development, and Support Services at Long Beach City College. From 1985 to 1989, she coordinated the Transfer Center programs at Cerritos Community College.

Sugimoto has also served as president of the Association of California Community College Administrators.

She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles; MBA and M.S.Ed. from the University of Southern California; and a BA from the University of California, San Diego.