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Presidential Search
Presidential Search
CCCS is committed to a thorough and inclusive search process
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) has announced a nationwide search for the next Community College of Denver (CCD) President – a successor to Dr. Marielena DeSanctis who was appointed CCCS Chancellor on October 1, 2025. CCCS is committed to a thorough and inclusive search process, which will identify the best leader for CCD from a deep and diverse pool of candidates.
Seeking a deep and diverse pool of candidates
The process will identify the best leader for CCD
The Chancellor has appointed a representative search advisory committee to guide the search process, with assistance from CCCS Chief Human Resources Officer, Christina Cecil, and AGB Search, a firm specializing in higher education searches. AGB Search will be represented by Managing Principal and CEO, Dr. Rod McDavis, Principal, Dr. Laura Woodworth-Ney, and Executive Search Associate, Dalene White.
Multiple stakeholder conversations were held in November along with the administration of a feedback survey. A CCD President Position Profile has been created from the information gleaned from those conversations and feedback. The search advisory committee and consultants will use this position profile as a guiding document during the recruitment and assessment process.
AGB Search has begun recruitment efforts and is developing a candidate pool for the search advisory committee to review, interview and assess in early 2026. The strongest candidates in that pool will be publicly announced as finalists and invited to meet with a larger group of campus constituencies this spring. It is the Chancellor’s expectation to identify the next CCD President late April or early May.
We know you are excited about this process and what is to come. The CCD community can stay informed about the progress of this search through this webpage where appropriate details will be shared publicly. Please understand it is important for us to adhere to a process where our candidates can rely on the discretion of those involved in the search process and our guarantee of confidentiality.
Search Advisory Committee
CCCS Chancellor DeSanctis has appointed a search advisory committee to guide the selection process and make recommendations for a group of finalists to visit the CCD campus and meet with a larger group of stakeholders. Selecting committee members is a thoughtful, deliberative process, and includes representatives from all aspects of the CCCS and CCD community – colleagues who will bring a variety of relevant professional, cultural and personal experiences to the table.
Search Advisory Committee Members:
- Kissa Boukary-Saido Human Resources Recruiter, CCD
- Tina Garcia Vice President of Student Services, CCD
- Adam Glick Faculty, CCD
- Dr. Barry Hubbard Dean, CCD
- Jenna Duke Student
- Dr. Mary Beth Susman Chair, CCD Advisory Council
- Yolanda Ortega SBCCOE Board Member
- Dr. Landon Pirius President, Red Rocks Community College
- Patrick Warwick-Diaz Associate General Counsel, CCCS
FAQ's
The State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (Board) has delegated to the CCCS Chancellor the personnel authority to manage the selection and employment of the College Presidents. The Chancellor will make the final selection of the next CCD President in consideration of the feedback gathered throughout the selection process.
The search advisory committee has been charged with assisting in the development of the position profile. They will consider potential candidates and review applications against the Chancellor approved position profile. The search advisory committee will conduct initial interviews with semi-finalist candidates and make recommendations of a group of finalists for the Chancellor’s consideration.
The position profile is developed with the search advisory committee and consultant and inclusive of feedback obtained in stakeholder conversations and the CCD President feedback survey. The final position profile is approved by the Chancellor.
The search advisory committee will work to recommend an initial group of semi-finalist candidates for interview. Following initial interviews, the search advisory committee will provide recommendations to the Chancellor of a group of finalist candidates. The finalists identified by the Chancellor will be invited to the CCD campus for further stakeholder engagements.
The names of candidates will only be known by the search firm, search advisory committee, and Chancellor until finalists have been identified. Finalists’ information will be made public prior to their visit to campus.
The CCD community is invited to participate in available stakeholder conversations in November or complete the CCD President feedback survey. The feedback will be used to shape the CCD President position profile. Once the Chancellor has announced finalists for the position, the CCD community will be invited to meet with the finalists in a series of campus forums. Opportunities to provide feedback on the finalists will be made available and the feedback will be shared with the Chancellor.
CCD President Search Timeline
| November 13 | Search Advisory Committee Kick Off
|
November 14 - 21 | Stakeholder Feedback
|
Week of December 1 | Position Profile is finalized and posted |
November – January 26 | Candidate Recruitment
|
January 26 | Full Consideration Application Deadline |
February | Search Advisory Committee Application Review
|
End of February | Search Advisory Committee Interviews Semi-Finalists
|
Early March | Chancellor Announces Finalists
|
March 16-19 | Finalists Visit CCD
|
April | Chancellor Announces Next CCD President |