Fresno-area community colleges get new interim chancellor. Here’s what we know
Doug Houston, current chancellor of Yuba Community College District, will be the new interim chancellor for the State Center Community College District, the SCCCD board announced Tuesday evening.
Houston will temporarily lead Fresno City College, Madera, Reedley, Clovis Community colleges, and their satellite campuses while the board undergoes the hiring process to find a permanent chancellor.
Current SCCCD Chancellor Paul Parnell will retire in July after being hired in 2016.
Houston is coming from Northern California, where he leads five campuses, including Yuba Community College and Woodland Community College.
Before that, he was the superintendent/president of Lassen College and served in various administrative positions at Butte College and Barstow College, according to his biography.
Houston served in the U.S. Army, taking after his father, who was a career Army officer.
He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from the University of Florida and a doctorate in educational leadership from Pepperdine University.
Houston is a member of the California Community Colleges’ Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee, the Association of California Community College Administrators, and NextEd. He serves on advisory committees for Wheelhouse: The Center for Community College Leadership and Research at U.C. Davis and the CSU Sacramento Educational Doctorate programs.
According to the board, Houston will start on May 1 for a 12 month term, when a permanent chancellor is hired.
Houston will receive a $300,000 annual salary, along with vehicle and expense allowances of $800 each per month. Parnell’s salary as of 2019 was $302,220, according to his contract.
Board president Annalisa Perea said Houston’s “successful track record as a respected statewide leader in community colleges coupled with his experience working in a multi-college district make him the ideal choice for this significant position as we search for a permanent chancellor.”
Houston, in a statement, said he was humbled to get the position.
“State Center Community College District has a rich history of quality instruction, programs and student success; it is home to the first and to the newest of California’s community colleges. This is an exciting time to join that legacy as the District constructs several new state-of-the-art facilities and continues to improve the educational experience for students. I look forward to working with the Board, faculty, staff, students and community and supporting the search for the next chancellor,” he said.
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This story was originally published March 2, 2021 at 5:35 PM.