Brian Sanders announced as Modesto Junior College president. Here’s what he wants to accomplish
The Yosemite Community College District Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to appoint Brian Sanders as the 18th person to fill the Modesto Junior College presidency since 2000, including permanent and interim leaders.
Sanders said he was thrilled with the outcome and this is a dream come true. He said he wishes to stabilize the institution and establish good relationships with the community to foster a positive culture the school has had in the past.
“It’s about we, it’s not about me,” Sanders said. “Modesto Junior College is a fantastic institution with just history and excellence across the board. We’re going to bring all that back to the surface.”
In a news release Thursday afternoon, YCCD Chancellor Henry Yong said, “Dr. Sanders has lived and worked in the community for many decades and understands that the most important task for the college is always student success. This includes increasing completion, transfer to four-year institutions, and increasing access to Career Technical Education opportunities for the community. He will reach out to the community to build partnerships with high schools, businesses and organizations so that our diverse community can be inclusively served.”
Sanders has been the Interim Vice President of Instruction at MJC since June 2022. His current salary is $210,823; his new salary will be determined at the board’s meeting in January.
Sanders has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Davis, and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon.
He has worked for the YCCD for almost 30 years in various positions including as a mathematics professor and as the dean of the science, mathematics and engineering division at Modesto Junior College. He also served as the vice president of instruction at Columbia College.
Modesto Junior College has not had a permanent president since Santanu Bandyopadhyay was fired last December. He held the position for 18 months. Modesto Junior College professor Chad Redwing served as the interim president but was told he did not meet the qualifications for the permanent position.
Sanders was one of four finalists for the position during the fall search. In May, four previous finalists were announced, but one withdrew and none of the other three were selected.
Since its opening in 1921, more than 30 presidents have served at Modesto Junior College, with an average tenure of 2.8 years, according to the Community College League of California.
Modesto Junior College also has the highest CEO turnover rate out of all 116 community colleges in California.
While California Labor Solutions was hired to review all the candidates that applied to the position, Kimberley Gibbs, the executive secretary of the Chancellor’s Office, said the finalists were selected through the first-level interview process conducted by the search committee members.
Redwing said he will return to his faculty position at the community college.
“It has been quite a year, so I just wanted you to know how thankful I am for the opportunity to serve our students, community and college in the capacity of interim president,” he said. “It has been a highlight of my career to see firsthand all of the transformative work we do each day at the college to empower our learners.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2023 at 5:55 PM.
