Leadership
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.
Ricky Shabazz, Ed.D.
President
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.
Marciano Perez, Jr.
Vice President of Student Services
Marciano Perez, Jr. is a higher education professional with over 25 years of leadership
experience in community colleges, universities and K-12 education. He has served
as an administrator for the past five and a half years at the community college. He
is committed to the community college mission of open access, educating all students,
promoting social justice, diversity and inclusion and providing visionary student
services. He has been an advocate for historically underserved students throughout
his professional career.
Marciano is a first generation college student and graduate, originally from Gary,
Indiana. He was first in his family to attend college and also earn a post-secondary
education degree. Marciano holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Denison University
and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Ball State University.
Marciano has served in various administrative capacities throughout his professional
career at San Diego City College, University of California San Diego, University of
California Davis and Ball State University. He is a visionary, resilient, and innovative
leader and has been a National Community College Hispanic Council Fellow (NCCHC) since
2019.
Matilda Chavez
Vice President of Instruction
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.
John Parker, DBA
Vice President of Administrative Services
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.