For Immediate Release: May 10, 2019

Contact: Kristin Darken,Acting Director of Marketing and Communications (831) 646-4001

MONTEREY PENINSULA COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNOUNCE FINALISTS FOR SUPERINTENDENT/PRESIDENT POSITION

MONTEREY, CA – Monterey Peninsula Community College District (MPCCD) Board of Trustees are pleased to announce the selection of two finalists for the position of Superintendent/President.

The MPCCD Superintendent/President finalists are, in alphabetical order, Dr. Denise King (Cleveland State Community College, Vice President for Academic Affairs) and Dr. Arturo Reyes (Mendocino College, Superintendent/President). The finalists represent college leadership from the states of Tennessee and California. Their abbreviated biographies are provided below.

Dr. Denise King

Dr. Denise King is Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee. She previously served as Dean for Arts and Humanities at St. Charles Community College in Cottleville, MO; as Campus Director, San Juan Center for Skagit Valley College in Friday Harbor, Washington; and as Interim Dean for Humanities and Social Sciences at Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington where she earned tenure as faculty in Theatre Arts and Speech. Dr. King earned a Ph.D. in Drama and Humanities from Stanford University and a B.A. in both Music and Theater Studies from Emory University. (Click here for full Dr. King's full biography)

Dr. Arturo Reyes

Dr. Arturo Reyes has served as Superintendent/President of Mendocino College in Northern California since 2013. As a successful community college leader and educational justice advocate, Dr. Reyes brings over thirty-three years of experience as a member of the classified staff, faculty, and administration in California’s public education system. Prior to Mendocino College, Dr. Reyes served as the Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Solano College, Interim President and Vice President of Academic Affairs at San José City College, and Dean at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office in Sacramento. He holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Davis having earned his Master of Arts degree in Education and Administrative Services credential at California State University, Sacramento where he participated in the Bilingual Leadership Training Program, and received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication Studies and Spanish. (Click here for Dr. Reyes' full biography)

Dr. King and Dr. Reyes were selected from a large group of candidates by the Superintendent/President Search Committee, led by Vice Chair Dr. Loren Steck, and were recommended to the Board of Trustees following a nationwide search. The MPCCD Board of Trustees will conduct interviews of the finalists on Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21.

Open forums also are scheduled for the same dates. The open forums will be conducted in Lecture Forum 103 on the Monterey Peninsula College campus at 980 Fremont Street in Monterey. Faculty, staff, students, and community members are invited to attend.

The open forum schedule is provided below.

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.

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