Welcome to San Diego City College! Serving students for more than 100 years, we celebrate the rich heritage of all of our students and staff. We respect that you come to City College with an important family heritage, a valuable collection of life experiences, and a great expectation for your future.
Although we come from different places, we join together here at City College focused on one goal: student success. Student success has different definitions, but here at City College it means that each and every student is provided a pathway to reach their academic, career, and life goals.
President - Dr. Ricky Shabazz
Dr. Ricky Shabazz is an enthusiastic, student-centered leader with over 20 years of
executive experience advancing academic achievement, educational equity, diversity,
and improving access to higher education. He is an effective public speaker and team
builder with an accomplished track record developing collaborative partnerships that
improve student success. He specializes in enrollment management and cultivating institutional
policies, processes, and culture that provide personalized student experiences and
improves student outcomes. Dr. Shabazz's demonstrated strengths include using data
informed decisions to lead high impact models of practice, promoting innovative solutions
that stimulate inclusive dialogue amongst all stakeholders, and being a passionate
lifelong learner who is absolutely committed to the mission of community colleges
to educate a diverse community of learners.
Vice President of Student Services - Denise Whisenhunt
Denise Whisenhunt, J.D., is an innovative leader with more than 20 years of administrative and leadership experience in the community college system. She currently serves as the vice president of student services, providing vision and support to implement and sustain strategies that impact student success. In her position, she is responsible for the leadership of the college's comprehensive student services division, with an emphasis on student focused experiences from outreach to graduation. Prior to this role, she previously led the college as interim president in the midst of transition and accreditation. Her administrative positions have also included interim vice president of student services at San Diego Mesa College, dean of student affairs at San Diego City College, and as the associate dean of outreach for the San Diego Community College District. She has dedicated much of her professional career working with underserved and underprepared populations, with a focus on increasing access and opportunities through equity based practices to help students reach their goals. She is recognized for the development of innovative programs and systems, leveraging traditional and alternative resources through collaborative and integrated efforts to support student achievement.
She holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California, San Diego and a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. She is actively involved in state and local leadership. Among her involvements include serving on the board of directors of the Monarch School, a transformational K-12 school designed to educate homeless youth.
Vice President of Instruction - Matilda Chavez
Ms. Matilda "Tillie" Chavez was approved in December by the SDCCD Board of Trustees
to serve as City College's new vice president of instruction. Tillie brings more than
17 years of experience in higher education. She earned a BS in nursing from Arizona
State University and an MS in nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland,
Ohio. Tillie is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education leadership at Old Dominion
University in Norfolk, VA. Most recently, Tillie served as the interim vice president
of instruction at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix.
Vice President of Administrative Services - John Parker, DBA
Dr. John Parker joined City College in August of 2020. As a collaborative, solutions-focused
leader, John brings 15 year of higher education experience. Prior to joining City
College, he previously served as a university CFO and as a college President. He promotes
an atmosphere of strong relationships and operational excellence in his commitment
to students, mission and culture. John earned a doctorate in Business Administration
from Argosy University, an MS in Accounting from Arizona State University and a BS
in Business Administration from USC. As a first generation college graduate and an
adjunct accounting and finance instructor, John is dedicated to serving historically
underserved students and the communities in which they live.