New program aims to bolster community college leadership and innovation

In partnership with Southwestern College, the USC Rossier School of Education is launching the USC Rossier - Community College Innovation Scholars Program at Southwestern College. Designed to expand access to graduate education for community college employees and generate applied research, the program aims to transform the state’s community college system. 

Through the pilot program, up to 120 employees of Southwestern College will earn graduate degrees while continuing to serve in their current roles. USC Rossier faculty will teach courses via a hybrid model, with classes held online and some in person at Southwestern College’s Chula Vista campus. Students will also travel to USC’s University Park Campus for immersive weekends. Faculty, staff and administrators will earn their Master of Education in Learning Design with AI and Emerging Technologies or their Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership. Students in the program will be eligible for partial tuition support and will engage in practice-based research, contributing up to 120 peer-reviewed research studies that will address equity gaps, student success, workforce development and institutional effectiveness. The program will also serve as a valuable means of recruiting and retaining highly trained faculty and staff at Southwestern College.

A new model to meet the challenges of today

The California Community College system is the largest system of higher education in the nation. Together, these 116 schools have played an enormous role in increasing the number of Californians who hold college degrees. Around one-third of high school graduates in California select a community college to continue their education, making the community colleges across the state the most common entry point to higher education for Californians. 

While community college student completion rates are currently around 30%, these figures highlight an opportunity for growth. At the heart of the USC Rossier - Community College Innovation Scholars Program is a commitment to strengthening student outcomes through the implementation of evidence-based strategies and decision-making grounded in data to bring about meaningful changes that boost student completion and persistence. 

One key aspect of increasing student success is ensuring that community colleges have strong, stable leadership. As of 2025, the average tenure for community college leaders dropped to 4.3 years. Limited succession pipelines and significant barriers to professional advancement for faculty and staff also plague California community colleges.

“Addressing student success at scale requires parallel investment in the people and leadership structures that shape institutional change, and that’s one major aspect of what we aim to do with this new program,” said USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera.

From vision to launch

The program was officially launched at a special event in downtown San Diego on Feb. 12.

“Today’s project kickoff represents the culmination of a vision that began years ago— a vision for innovation in higher education and transformation in South San Diego County,” Superintendent and President of Southwestern College Mark Sanchez said during his welcoming remarks at the launch event. 

The new program not only marks a significant milestone for the county, but also “holds great promise for future generations of students,” Sanchez said. 

Sanchez also expressed thanks for the partnership with USC Rossier, noting that the schools share the same values of excellence.

Dean Pedro Nogeura, who was also in attendance and provided remarks, praised USC Rossier’s ability to embrace the opportunity and fast-track the launch of the program to meet the urgent needs of strengthening leadership capacity at the college. 

“USC Rossier is known for producing leaders,” Noguera said. "We take great pride in the fact that over 90 of the superintendents in this state are our alumni. Dozens of higher ed leaders around the world, including in this state, are among our alumni, and we want that to be true at our community colleges too.” 

Noguera also remarked on the program’s unique hybrid model. “What’s different about this model is that rather than expect the professionals who run Southwestern to come to USC, we are going to come here to ensure that you have access to the best teaching and research that we can bring to bear on the challenges facing Southwestern College,” Noguera said. 

Noguera also stressed that this inaugural program can be replicated, at scale, across the state, strengthening the leadership pipeline at community colleges throughout California

Chief of Staff at Southwestern College and an alumnus of USC Rossier’s EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership program, Zaneta Encarnacion EdD ’25, has helped bring the program to fruition. Echoing Sanchez and Noguera, Encarnacion said during her remarks that, “Our system needs leaders who are prepared to design what comes next.”

For George Pla, a graduate of USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and founder, president and CEO of Cordoba Corporation, this new initiative is personal. Pla, the first in his family to graduate from college, told attendees that, “The most important degree I ever received was my AA.” His associate degree helped him access higher education and set him off on a path to an incredibly successful career.

Southwestern College and USC Rossier were also awarded special certificates of recognition from Rosanna Javier, a representative from the office of California State Senator Stephen Padilla. 

What’s next

The new program expects to welcome its first cohort in fall 2026.

To learn more about how to support the USC Rossier-California Community College Innovation Scholars Pilot, please contact Associate Dean of Advancement Rachel Beal at bealr@rossier.usc.edu.

Interested applicants can learn more here.