MARTINEZ, CA – The Contra Costa Community College District has selected Dr. Damon A. Bell as interim president of Contra Costa College. At its meeting next Wednesday, November 13, the Governing Board will be asked to approve his contract which will last through June 30, 2021.
“I am very impressed with Dr. Bell’s honesty, integrity, commitment to student success, and respect for the participatory governance culture,” said chancellor Fred Wood. “He has over 25 years of administrative experience, most of which has been at the community college including over 10 years as a Vice President and a year serving as Interim President. Dr. Bell has a clear commitment to the Contra Costa College, eagerly agreeing to a contract length that will help bring the stability and guidance Contra Costa College needs at this time. We are excited that Dr. Bell has accepted this leadership opportunity and I look forward to working with him.”
During the past three months, Contra Costa College has been led by acting president Mojdeh Mehdizadeh. She will return full-time to her permanent position as the District’s executive vice chancellor of education and technology.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve Contra Costa College and the West County community”, said Dr. Bell. “I love and feel right at home with the diversity of the students and staff, and appreciate the responsibility we have to serve our students and community to the best of our abilities. Contra Costa College has a great reputation for achieving success for all students, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to do even better.”
Contra Costa College is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District and currently serves almost 11,000 students (unduplicated head county) annually. Since 1948, CCC has provided exemplary educational services to hundreds of thousands of residents from the greater West County area, and is proud of its diverse student body and commitment to individual student success. Excellent programs such as the Center for Science Excellence, The Advocate newspaper, the green Automotive Services program, Middle College High School, the Nursing program, and the Culinary Arts program are known through the state and the nation. A model of excellence, Contra Costa College prides itself on being one of the finest community colleges in the country.
The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez.
