For Immediate Release: October 24, 2020

Kristin Darken
Monterey Peninsula College
(831) 646-4001
kdarken@mpc.edu

Monterey, CA: On October 23, 2020, Monterey Peninsula Community College District’s (MPCCD) Governing Board completed final interviews of five finalists and is pleased to announce the decision to begin contract negotiations with Mr. David Martin to become the next Superintendent/President of Monterey Peninsula College. The goal is to approve the contract at the Board’s regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2020 with a start date to follow immediately thereafter.

The announcement was made following a nationwide search coordinated by Community College Search Services, which produced a strong pool of well-qualified applicants for the position. A diverse search committee of campus and community members, led by Board Chair Yuri Anderson and Trustee Marilynn Dunn Gustafson, narrowed the list of applicants down to five finalists, who presented at public forums held on October 19 and 20. The finalists were then invited for final interviews with the Governing Board on October 22 and 23.

According to Board Chair Ms. Yuri Anderson, “The Board is pleased to be offering Mr. David Martin the position of Superintendent/President of the Monterey Peninsula Community College District. We conducted a rigorous national search which returned an exemplary candidate pool. In the end, it was David's commitment to student success, demonstrated ability to bring people together to solve sensitive and complex problems, and keen business acumen that enabled him to rise to the top. Personally, I am particularly excited to work with David to move our District goals around equity and anti-racism forward. David understands the power and importance of education to disrupt systemic oppression. He is a true ally to our communities of color and is prepared to use his privilege to ensure the success of our diverse student body.”

About Mr. David Martin

Mr. Martin has served as MPC’s Interim Superintendent/President since July 2019. During that time, the District has accomplished a comprehensive strategic planning cycle, completed its full accreditation mid-term report, worked collaboratively with both faculty and classified labor partners to achieve multi-year labor contracts, and positioned itself to place Measure V, a $230 million facilities and technology bond initiative, on the upcoming November 2020 ballot. 

“I am thrilled and honored to have the continued opportunity to serve our Lobo community alongside the Board, faculty, staff, and administration here at MPC,” states Mr. Martin. “The Monterey Peninsula is home and I’m excited to keep building with the community to ensure that our campus meets the region’s needs in educating our current and future workforce.”

Prior to accepting the Interim Superintendent/President position at MPC, Mr. Martin served as the College’s Vice President of Administration from January 2018 to June 2019. Before joining Monterey Peninsula College, Mr. Martin served as the Chief Financial Officer and subsequently as an Interim Vice Chancellor at City College of San Francisco. Mr. Martin was an integral part of City College of San Francisco’s reaffirmation of accreditation for the full seven-year cycle. Mr. Martin started his career in higher education with a regional public accounting firm, providing operational, financial, and compliance consulting services to numerous community colleges throughout California. 

Mr. Martin earned a master’s degree in business administration from California State University, East Bay, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, San Bernardino. Mr. Martin is currently completing his doctorate in higher education leadership at Drexel University and plans to conclude his program in spring 2021. Mr. Martin is also a California certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner. 

Mr. Martin enjoys running and cycling on the local recreational trails as well as supporting local events and athletic competitions.

Monterey Peninsula College, part of California's public community college system, is an open-access institution, committed to fostering student learning and success by providing excellence in instructional programs, facilities, and services to support the goals of students pursuing transfer, career, basic skills, and lifelong learning opportunities. In addition to the scenic Monterey campus located on 90+ acres, MPC's district includes two excellent facilities in the former Fort Ord, to serve the residents in north Monterey County. As a comprehensive community college, MPC responds to the educational and cultural needs of its diverse community, distinguished for its outstanding academic programs and strong commitment to student success. To learn more about Monterey Peninsula College, please visit www.mpc.edu and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.