The Valley Chronicle - Mt. San Jacinto College names four finalists in search for next superintendent/president

Temecula, CA – April 10, 2026—Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) has named four finalists in its national search for the district’s next superintendent/president, officials announced.

The search is being conducted with assistance from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). A committee representing faculty, classified staff, administrators, the student body, trustees, and community members reviewed applications and conducted initial interviews.

On April 7, the committee completed semifinalist interviews and forwarded four candidates to the MSJC Board of Trustees for further consideration.

The finalists, listed alphabetically, are:

Dr. Lonita Cordova: Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services at San Joaquin Delta College and U.S. Navy veteran, Cordova has more than 20 years of experience in California’s community college system. Her background includes leadership roles at Modesto Junior College and Merced Community College District, with a focus on aligning institutional operations with student access and success initiatives.

Dr. Tawny Dotson: President of Yuba College, Dotson oversees institutional operations, including instruction, student services, and fiscal management. Her career includes leadership roles across multiple states and service as a U.S. Air Force officer. She is active in statewide and national higher education leadership initiatives.

Dr. Jeannie G. Kim: President of Santiago Canyon College, Kim has more than 35 years of experience across the University of California, California State University, and community college systems. Her work has focused on strategic planning, institutional change, and the integration of technology in education.

Dr. Daniel López: President of Harold Washington College in Chicago, López has more than 30 years of experience in higher education leadership. His work has centered on student success, academic programs, and equity initiatives. He is involved in several national higher education organizations.

Public forums for the finalists are scheduled for April 21, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the college district’s Temecula Valley Campus boardroom (TA-301). The sessions will be open to the public and livestreamed.

A link to the livestream and a form for submitting questions and feedback will be made available on the college’s presidential search website.

The Board of Trustees is expected to select the next superintendent/president in May.

More information about the search and finalists’ bios are available at: https://msjc.edu/presidentialsearch/