Five Finalists Named for City College of San Francisco Chancellor Search

The chosen candidate will start in July 2025

Media Contact:  Alexandra Céspedes Kent, 510-413-8445, alexandra@volersa.com
 
San Francisco, California (March 1, 2025). City College of San Francisco (CCSF) is excited to announce that it has selected five finalists to interview for its chancellor position. With the assistance of AGB Search, a national search was launched that fielded a highly qualified and diverse pool of candidates.  

A screening committee comprised of students, faculty, classified professionals, administrators, board members, and community representatives has recommended the following candidates to the Board of Trustees for consideration:

• Mitch Bailey, MPA., Interim Chancellor, City College of San Francisco
• Rudy Besikof, Ed.D., President of Laney College in Oakland
• Carlos Cortez, Ph.D., former Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District
• Kimberlee Messina, Ed.D., President, Spokane Falls Community College
• Henry Yong, Ed.D., Ed.S., Chancellor, Yosemite Community College District

Finalists will participate in campus visits during the Week on March 10 – 14 which will include interviews with the Board of Trustees, forums with various stake holder groups which will be open to the public and will offer a Zoom option. The forums will allow the finalists to introduce themselves, share their vision and priorities, and respond to questions gathered from the campus community. The forums will be facilitated by students, faculty, classified professional, and administrators. Additional information about the search process can be found on the Chancellor Search Webpage.

The public and members of the college community are invited to attend any of the forums and provide feedback on the finalists during this time. An electronic feedback survey will be available until 11:59 pm on the fifth day following each campus visit.

The Chancellor is responsible for all operations in the district with a nearly $300 million annual budget. The Chancellor oversees the Ocean Campus, Mission Center, John Adams Center, Evans Center, Downtown Center, and Chinatown/North Beach center; assures that the District is administered in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of Trustees and state and federal regulations; and maintains a close working relationship with the community, K-12 and local higher-education systems, as well as local, state and federal officials.

About the Finalists for CCSF Chancellor

Mr. Bailey is Interim Chancellor at City College of San Francisco. He earned an associate's degree from Sinclair Community College, a bachelor's degree from Capital University, and a master's degree in Public Administration from Wright State University.

Dr. Besikof is President of Laney College in Oakland. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a master's degree from the University of Colorado, Denver and a Doctor of Education from the University of California Los Angeles.

Dr. Cortez was the former Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District. He earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a master's degree from New York University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Messina is the President of Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, Washington. She earned a bachelor's degree from CSU Sacramento, a master's degree from CSU Sacramento and a Doctor of Education degree from University of California, Davis.

Dr. Yong is the Chancellor of Yosemite Community College District. He has an earned bachelor's degree, master's degree and Ed.S. in Educational Administration and Leadership (emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction) from Loma Linda University. He also earned a Doctor of Educational Administration and Leadership from La Sierra University.

About CCSF

Bringing instruction opportunities since 1935, City College of San Francisco is an urban community college serving tens-of-thousands of students annually at six locations throughout San Francisco. The College offers an affordable opportunity to earn associate degrees, prepare for transfer, pursue career and technical education, and personal development and enrichment. Visit: https://www.ccsf.edu

Learn more about Free City. Visit: https://www.ccsf.edu/paying-college/free-city

Dr. Rudy Besikof

As a finalist for City College of San Francisco Chancellor, Dr. Rudy Besikof brings leadership demonstrating his commitment to the success of California’s rich, diverse community of higher education students. He has been serving in leadership at Laney College since 2018, first as Vice President of Instruction before becoming its President in July 2020.  In 2024, as the culmination of the College’s 2022-24 Free College initiative, Laney enjoyed a 30% increase in degrees and certificates stemming from a 25% increase in enrollment, and within the community Oakland Chinatown’s Chamber recognized Laney with the 2024 Outstanding Community Partner Award.

Dr. Besikof has been in higher education since 1990, first as an instructor and then tenured faculty member of 7 years at Long Beach City College before becoming an administrator in 2011.  Prior to becoming president in 2020, he had served five years as a Chief Instructional Officer and five as a Dean in both single and multi-college districts.

Dr. Besikof has also had extensive work in the planning of colleges, including full investment in the Guided Pathways Initiative.  Within his own college, as Accreditation Liaison Officer and then President, he has led colleges from sanction to reaffirmation of accreditation, and ACCJC has appointed him to lead two separate visiting teams.  Informed by his time on the Academic Senate, he is also committed to strong planning through shared governance, with experience building critical documents such as Distance Education, Strategic Enrollment Management, Facilities, Technology, and Educational Master Plans.

Representing his college in the community, Dr. Besikof serves as an appointed member of the City of Oakland’s Workforce Development Advisory Board, as well as President of the Northern Alameda Adult Education Collective’s Executive Cabinet.  Prior to that, he previously served on the California Inland Empire’s Chapter of the United States Department of Commerce’s District Export Council.   Details about his college’s partnerships with industry, civic leaders, fellow educators and students may be heard on his podcast, The President’s Desk, which airs on radio and television.   

President Besikof earned his Doctorate as a 2010 graduate of UCLA's Educational Leadership Program. His dissertation, focusing on effective fundraising practice, earned the UCLA School of Education's Outstanding Dissertation Award, and he has sat on college/district Foundation Boards as a resource member and later a president.  He continued his professional growth this year as a Fellow in the 2024 UC Davis Wheelhouse Institute’s CEO cohort.

 Dr. Kimberlee S. Messina

Dr. Kimberlee S. Messina is a passionate and committed Community College educator who has been serving as President of Spokane Falls Community College in the state of Washington since June 2019.

Prior to this appointment she worked in the California Community College system for 26 years. Dr. Messina is an Aspen Presidential Fellow and spent 10 years as a tenured faculty member at Santa Rosa Junior College where she infused equity and innovation in her Spanish curriculum. During that time, she served two terms as the Academic Senate President before being appointed as the Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. As Dean, she worked closely with college personnel, local industry and non-profits to increase access and success for underrepresented students. Dr. Messina joined Foothill College as the Vice President of Instruction and Institutional Research in May of 2011. She also served as the Interim President of the college for the 2015-2016 academic year. She served two years as the Vice Chancellor for Educational Services and Planning at the San Mateo County Community College District.

During her seven-year tenure in Silicon Valley, as well as her five years in WA, she has been active in legislative advocacy, as well as building and maintaining partnerships with educational partners, non-profits and industry.

Dr. Messina has extensive experience in Guided Pathways, curriculum, equity infused pedagogy, strategic planning, and accreditation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Spanish from California State University, Sacramento and earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Messina is an active participant in statewide organizations and policy groups in the state of Washington and served on the Board of the Association of California Community College Administrators and the Advisory committee for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative, as well as seven accreditation site visits.

Dr. Carlos O. Cortez

Carlos O. Cortez, Ph.D., recently served as the chancellor of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), the seventh-largest community college system in the United States. In this capacity, he oversaw more than 100,000 students annually and was responsible for a $1 billion budget. As chancellor, Dr. Cortez oversaw the reopening of the district’s 10 campuses following the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding enrollment, and restoring the district’s finances through careful fiscal planning and establishing new revenue streams. He also spearheaded the development of a districtwide strategic plan that will take the SDCCD through 2030.

Previously, Dr. Cortez served as the president of San Diego College of Continuing Education, one of the four colleges that comprise the SDCCD. Dr. Cortez has served as faculty at Johns Hopkins University, National University, New York University, and the University of California (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego). His research interests center on the role of educators and administrators of color in the historical development of American social welfare and education policy. Dr. Cortez is also an expert in the area of promoting inclusion in urban education through literacy and policy initiatives and a champion of higher education accessibility.

Dr. Cortez has taught consistently since 1999. He has served as an administrator for 18 years and CEO for 13 years. Prior to leading SDCCE, he worked as the acting vice president and dean of instruction at Berkeley City College (BCC). Before BCC, he served as director of Education Extension at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He began his career in education as a Teach for America Corps member. His experience spans the public, private, and charter school sectors in Washington DC, Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, Berkley, and San Diego. Dr. Cortez served as principal of New Village Charter School and as assistant principal of special education services at Grape Street Elementary School, both in Los Angeles. In these positions he was known for his dedication to teachers and students, the development of innovative programs and services, policy advocacy, astute fundraising, and sound fiscal management.

Dr. Cortez’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology from Georgetown University; a master’s degree in Race and Gender Politics from New York University; and a doctor of philosophy in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Henry Yong

Dr. Henry Yong is the Chancellor of Yosemite Community College District, which includes Modesto Jr. College and Columbia College in Sonora.  YCCD is over 4,500 sq. miles, covering all of Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties; and portions of Calaveras, San Joaquin, Merced and Santa Clara counties.  The two colleges serve an enrollment of 29,000 students. Dr. Yong began his current assignment as Chancellor of YCCD on July 1, 2017.  Prior to that, he served as the President of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose for six years, which followed the six years he served as the Vice President of Instruction at Taft College.  He served as the Dean of Academic Programs at Victor Valley College for five years, and as the Associate Dean of Occupational Education at West Hills College in Coalinga for three years.  Prior to joining the community college, he served as an administrator for the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) for seven years in Orange County.  His faculty experience was in the areas of ESL, Career Skills, and he also served as faculty mentor, and coordinator for special programs.

Dr. Yong has served on multiple accreditation teams as a team member, as well as the Team Assistant. His experience and service with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) also includes serving as the Chair of accreditation teams to two community colleges.  Additionally, he has also served as the District Accreditation Team Chair to two multi-college districts.  Dr. Yong has also served as the Chair of a Partnership Resource Team (PRT) from the state-wide Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI), to a community college seeking funds for institutional improvement and effectiveness.

In his current role as Chancellor of the Yosemite Community College District, he values inclusion in participative governance, and giving a genuine voice to the community at large.  He was instrumental in increasing Dual Enrollment/CCAP, which allows high school students to enroll at the district’s two community colleges, and start earning college credits.  He envisions establishing a third college in the Yosemite Community College District, to serve the growing communities in the West Side (Interstate 5 and 580 corridor), through strategic partnerships with local city and county governments, K-12 districts and the private sector.

At San Jose, Dr. Yong was recognized by city, county and state leaders for his leadership at EVC, which saw the college emerged from Warning Status to full reaffirmation in its accreditation journey.  During his tenure at EVC, he brought stability to the institution, leading to increased student enrollment, and increased diversity of the administrative, faculty and professional support staff workforce to more closely mirror the student demographics.  In implementing the Student Success Initiative, he reconfigured oversight in Counseling services with a Dean of Student Success, and added more counselors and faculty.

Dr. Yong values partnering with business and industry to advance community college programs.  In his career, he has obtained support from the corporate sector for new training programs that lead to employment prospects with good wages.  He sees these partnerships as opportunities for the community-at-large to positively contribute to the instructional process, and meeting mutual needs and goals, and which led the offering of the Automotive Collision Repair Technology program at EVC.

Dr. Yong is a strong believer in “We Welcome All, We Serve All.”  A former immigrant himself, he overcame difficulties and challenges, and his personal journey is similar to many community college students.  He is a strong believer in education as the avenue to a better future, and that community colleges have a unique role in preparing the workforce of tomorrow through technology and innovation.  He sees community colleges as foundational change agents for equity, and thereby creating opportunities for greater inclusion, and active participation in local community governance.

Mitchell Bailey

Mitchell Bailey serves as interim chancellor of City College of San Francisco, a position he has held since June 2024.  As interim chancellor, he partners with faculty, classified professionals, administrators and the Board of Trustees to provide students with equitable educational opportunities and align efforts to better serve the community.  Mitch continues to lead efforts to resolve the College’s accreditation issues, engage in transparent and inclusive financial planning to achieve fiscal sustainability, stabilize the institution by permanently filling senior positions, focus efforts and resources on the development and implementation of an enrollment management strategy, and evaluate and align capital project needs.

Mitch began his career in the non-profit sector, serving as local, regional, and state executive director and then later working at the national office for a civics education-related organization.  In these roles, Mitch engaged dozens of school districts, community partners and funders in supporting efforts to bring about systemic change in educating students and communities about civic duties and processes.  His passion for public and community service led Mitch to work in county and state governments, where he led a number of state government-wide initiatives to reduce costs, improve processes and planning and enhance resident services.
 
Before launching a consulting practice to support educational, non-profit and governmental organizations, Mitch worked in higher education for nearly a dozen years, striving to make college more accessible and affordable for students.  He served as chief of staff at two well-respected college districts in Ohio and California respectively.  His California service includes expanding housing opportunities for faculty and staff of the San Mateo County Community College District by developing a new housing complex for employees, along with laying the groundwork for future possibilities for student housing.  He also partnered with the district’s state senator to craft SB 893 and ensure its passage through both chambers of the California legislature and have it signed by the governor to make community college free for residents in San Mateo County.
 
Having grown up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky, Mitch values the opportunities made available by education.  While working full-time, he received an associate degree in communication from Sinclair Community College, a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Capital University and a master of public administration (MPA) degree from Wright State University.

Mitch and his partner live in San Francisco.

Join us in-person at the OCEAN CAMPUS, STEAM BUILDING ROOM 101
  OR
Zoom Webinar: 

https://ccsf-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aO1wgY1rQ0yAAAWTAjLQ-w

FORUMS – SCHEDULE

• CHANCELLOR SEARCH POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

2024 CHANCELLOR Search Process & Schedule