SBCCD Chancellor Rodriguez to Represent Inland Colleges on Statewide Community College CEO Board

She’ll serve as Region 9’s voice on a board shaping policy for 2 million California students

SBCCD Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez, Ed.D.

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. — Dr. Diana Z. Rodriguez, chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, has been elected by her peers to serve as the Region 9 chair on California’s Community College Chief Executive Officers Board, a statewide group that helps shape policy for the state’s 116 community colleges and nearly 2 million students.

She will begin a three-year term this month, with the option to serve a second. Region 9 spans a diverse area that includes 13 community colleges across the Inland Empire and high desert:

• Antelope Valley College
• Barstow College
• Chaffey College
• College of the Desert
• Copper Mountain College
• Crafton Hills College (SBCCD)
• Moreno Valley College (RCCD)
• Mt. San Jacinto College
• Norco College (RCCD)
• Palo Verde College
• Riverside City College (RCCD)
• San Bernardino Valley College (SBCCD)
• Victor Valley College
  

The board includes 15 chancellors, superintendents, and college presidents elected to represent different regions of the state. Together, they advise on legislative proposals, budget priorities, and key policy decisions before the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the state legislature, and other public agencies. The group also supports the advocacy efforts of the Community College League of California.

Rodriguez, who has served as SBCCD’s chancellor since 2021, said her focus will be on helping community colleges remain engines of economic mobility, especially for working adults and first-generation college students.

“Community colleges give people the tools to get better jobs, earn higher wages, and build more secure lives,” Rodriguez said. “I’m proud to represent our region’s community colleges and to push for solutions that strengthen our future workforce.”

According to a study by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, community college graduates earn $12,000 more per year, on average, than those with only a high school diploma.

Rodriguez succeeds Dr. Roger Schultz, superintendent/president of Mt. San Jacinto College, who held the Region 9 seat from 2017 through 2025.

A longtime Inland Empire resident and the first in her family to graduate from college, Rodriguez has spent more than 35 years in higher education, serving as a college president, vice president, and faculty member. Under her leadership, SBCCD has strengthened partnerships with local employers and public agencies, expanded career training programs, and helped secure millions in state and federal funding to support students and workforce development.

SBCCD Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez (third from right) celebrates the Crafton Hills College Class of 2025 alongside the Board of Trustees and campus leaders during commencement on May 23 in Yucaipa. From left: Board Chair Dr. Nathan Gonzales, Student Trustee Hadi Natour of Crafton Hills College, Trustee Dr. Stephanie Houston, Trustee Carlos Aguilera, Chancellor Rodriguez, Board Clerk Dr. Cherina Betters, and Board Vice Chair Joseph R. Williams. The ceremony marked a celebration of student success, community pride, and the district’s commitment to expanding educational opportunity in the Inland Empire.

Her election comes as Inland colleges are expanding efforts to make college more affordable, build stronger partnerships with K-12 schools, and connect students to good-paying careers.

Dr. Nathan Gonzales, chair of the SBCCD Board of Trustees, said Rodriguez’s appointment reflects her steady leadership and deep understanding of the region’s needs.

“Diana leads with heart and vision,” Gonzales said. “She knows that when we invest in our students, we are investing in our economic future. Her leadership on the state board will ensure our communities are heard and supported.”

Region 9 colleges serve tens of thousands of students each year, many of whom are adult learners balancing school with work and family responsibilities.

Rodriguez said she hopes to bring forward ideas that reduce barriers and help more students advance in school, work, and life.

“Whether someone is the first in their family to go to college or returning to school for a better career, we’re here to make that journey possible,” she said. “Each student’s success adds strength to our region.”