Goldsmith named chancellor of Fresno-area community colleges after months-long search
Carole Goldsmith was named chancellor of the State Center Community College District on Monday.
Goldsmith, 56, has been the president of Fresno City College since August 2016, and before that was president of West Hills College Coalinga. She also worked as the vice chancellor of educational services and workforce development during her 13-year tenure at West Hills.
Speaking to the public on Monday, Goldsmith said she was “humbled” and “grateful for this moment.”
“Our district is well positioned, incredibly well positioned, to be able to start this next chapter for both being a catalyst for individual learning and self improvement, and to be an active partner in economic development that our Valley needs.“
Goldsmith beat out two other finalists for the high-profile position overseeing Fresno City College, Clovis, Madera, and Reedley community colleges, including a college education consultant from Texas and a community college president in Stockton.
The appointment remains subject to final approval from the board of directors on Dec. 14 and would become effective Jan. 1.
The months-long search for a new leader kicked off late last year when Chancellor Paul Parnell announced his intention to retire over the summer. Doug Houston, a former Yuba Community College District chancellor, has led State Center since Parnell’s departure.
Goldsmith has lived in Fresno County for nearly four decades and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Fresno State, a master’s in educational administration from National University, and a doctorate in higher educational leadership from the joint doctorate program at Fresno State and UC Davis.
Under her leadership, Fresno City College has broken a three-year record-breaking graduation rate and has collaborated with faculty and staff in the redesign of the college organizational structure to better foster equity and efficiency, according to her biography from the district.
She has implemented new practices to improve transparency at the college and guided college and community discussions that ended with $17 million in funding for the development of the West Fresno Campus.
Priorities as the chancellor
Goldsmith said she had three priorities as she gets started as chancellor. The first is to stay focused on recovery from the pandemic.
“We need more health care workers, more educators who are technologically savvy and of course, first responders,” said Goldsmith. “That’s what community colleges do.”
She said that she’ll work with the community college presidents to help “bring students back on ground and online” and to help with the technological tools to help so students and schools “can be successful a hybrid experience.”
Goldsmith also said that the financial standing of district is a top priority, and that the district is currently “in a really good place” and she wants to make sure it “stay(s) fiscally solvent.”
The Measure C projects are among her top priorities as the chancellor. “At every one of our colleges, we have projects coming out of the ground,” she said in reference to a new child development center at Reedley College, the new West Fresno campus of Fresno City College, plans for a new Madera Community College Oakhurst campus, and the second phase of the new academic building in Clovis coming soon.
“We’re making good on those promises and now we need to make sure they’re staffed with the people that will be able to run those fabulous buildings.”
Message to struggling students: ‘I was you’
During Monday afternoon’s news conference, Goldsmith delivered a message to students: ”For any student who’s ever struggled with a class, whether it’s English or math, I was you,” said Goldsmith.
“When I was in high school, I can guarantee you my counselors never thought I would go into education or much less complete college education. I was the first one in my family to do so.”
Goldsmith said that students that might be struggling shouldn’t let that stop them from completing their education and said that education “is the path to help you find what that greatness is within you.”
She also emphasized that school faculty and staff is available to help students navigating the return to school during the ongoing pandemic.
“We have faculty who are ready to help you both online, on ground, and hybrid, because we know that’s the way of the future,” said Goldsmith.
SCCCD Board President Annalisa Perra said that some the board plans to find an interim president as they begin the process to find a permanent president for Fresno City College.
In an open letter to the incoming chancellor, Keith Ford, president of the State Center Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1533, applauded Goldsmith on her new position and highlighted her leadership, openness to consider opposing ideas, and her role as a “warrior for equity.”
Ford also used the letter to point out that Goldsmith will earn “at least $60k more annually” and highlighted the “need for equitable pay for that meaningful and impactful work” for SCCCD adjunct faculty, who have been calling for higher wages and better benefits.
Board president Perea said that compensation for the chancellor position will be confirmed at the Dec. 14 board meeting.
This story was originally published November 29, 2021 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Goldsmith named chancellor of Fresno-area community colleges after months-long search."