PACCD Board of Trustees Extends PCC Superintendent-Presidents Contract Through 2016

The Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to extend the contract of Dr. Mark W. Rocha, Pasadena City College superintendent-president, through the end of the academic year in 2016. Dr. Rocha was first appointed as superintendent-president of PCC on July 1, 2010.

“This will insure that we will have Dr. Rocha’s effective leadership through our reaccreditation effort, the implementation of our Educational Master Plan and the development of our facilities Centennial Master Plan,” said John Martin, PACCD Board president.

“The entire Board is grateful to Dr. Rocha for guiding PCC safely through the state budget crisis, helping us regain our accreditation and improving our basic skills program and graduation rate,” added Geoffrey Baum, trustee and outgoing PACCD Board president.

During Dr. Rocha’s tenure, the PCC Foundation has raised more than $7 million in private donations and has been awarded more than $26 million in external grants.
“I am very grateful to the Board for its vote of confidence,” Dr. Rocha said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve this Board and the college to continue our progress to become the very best community college for student success.”

PCC has been honored with numerous awards for its innovative programs the past year, including the California Community College Chancellor’s Award for Student Success for its innovative First Year Experience Pathways Program that has significantly increased student retention and persistence.

Dr. Rocha has also continued as an English instructor; last summer, he taught a section of modern literature at PCC. He is active as a scholar, recently presenting a lecture at California State University, Los Angeles, on the playwright August Wilson. He is also a Fulbright Fellow who taught for a year in Venezuela.

Also at the Dec. 12 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to extend the contracts of Dr. Robert H. Bell, assistant superintendent for Academic and Student Affairs; Robert B. Miller, assistant superintendent for Business and College Services; and Gail S. Cooper, General Counsel. In the same action, the Board appointed Dr. Ofelia Arellano as Dean of Academic Affairs. Dr. Arellano previously served at Santa Barbara City College.

“We are building a great team of faculty, staff and managers,” Dr. Rocha said. “I am more optimistic and hopeful about PCC’s future than ever.”

The superintendent-president’s current annual salary of $235,000 remains unchanged. Employee salaries and benefits are public information. Each year in February, the District releases the previous calendar year’s earnings and benefits of all District employees.