Chancellor Retires after Ten Years of Dedicated Service

CHANCELLOR FRANCISCO C. RODRIGUEZ RETIRES AFTER TEN YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE NATION’S LARGEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

Serving Since 2014, Chancellor Rodriguez Departs After Almost Four Decades of Public Service, The Second-Longest Serving Chancellor In District History

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—After a decade of transformative leadership, Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., concludes his tenure as Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) on November 2, 2024. Since stepping into the role on June 1, 2014, Dr. Rodriguez has overseen the nation’s largest community college district, which encompasses nine accredited colleges, serves over 205,000 students annually, and manages a workforce of nearly 10,000 employees – with an annual, all-funds budget exceeding $10 billion.

“Our nation’s resilience, economic vitality, and democratic promise hinge on the success and inclusion of every individual,” said Rodriguez. “Serving in the most accessible and egalitarian segment of higher education is a profound privilege. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together at LACCD to support and uplift talented, inspiring students while advancing our mission of access, equity, and opportunity. I am confident that the District will continue to carry this noble purpose forward with strength and vision.”

Throughout his tenure, Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez is credited with championing equity and expanding access to higher education, including sponsoring landmark legislation, increasing dual enrollment opportunities, attracting extramural resources, expanding university transfer agreements, growing philanthropic giving, advocating for and investing in Black student excellence, undocumented students, LGBTQIA, students with disabilities and other underserved communities, and securing federal earmarks for the District’s colleges that include public transportation and the LA Metro-LACCD GO-PASS program. His impactful work includes:

• Increasing student success by doubling the number of degrees, certificates, and transfer degrees earned.
• Hiring over 1,100 full-time, tenure-track faculty, while increasing racial and gender diversity among faculty and staff, including increasing healthcare benefits to adjunct faculty.
• Championing the expansion of bachelor’s degree programs nationally, in California, including SB 895, the community college nursing bill. LACCD now offers six approved baccalaureate degrees, the most of any community college district in the state.
• Leading the education campaign and passage of two local facilities bonds in 2016 and 2022, totaling $8.6 billion, to improve teaching facilities, infrastructure, technology, athletic facilities and sustainability.
• Increasing revenues to the District through state and federal advocacy, including Pell Grant expansion and launching the Mayor’s Ambassador Program for College Promise students.
• Fostering a culture of excellence and inclusivity through national leadership, speaking on higher education topics, serving as a founding member of efforts to prevent sexual harassment in higher education
• Leading pandemic navigation and post-pandemic recovery at LACCD with a “people-first” philosophy, fostering trust and creative problem-solving with diverse groups.
• Mentoring and positively impacting thousands of students, many of whom went on to become community college and university presidents, academic and community leaders, doctors, engineers, lawyers, and judges.
• Expanding community and business engagement to record levels, contributing to the region's economic prosperity through leadership roles with organizations, such as the LA Chamber of Commerce, UNITE-LA, and LAEDC.
• Championing the expansion of ethnic studies as a graduation requirement at community colleges through sponsored legislation.
• Championing national STEM policy through leadership roles with the Board on Science Education (NASEM),, and the National Science Foundation.
• Serving as the principal architect of the LACCD Framework for Racial Equity and Social Justice.

“We thank and congratulate Chancellor Rodriguez for his decade of service to the students of the Los Angeles Community College District,” said Nichelle Henderson, President of the LACCD Board of Trustees. “Chancellor Rodriguez’s commitment to educational equity, economic opportunity, and, simply, a better life for all of our students shines through in every single one of our interactions. Our students are better off for his leadership.”

“My sincerest gratitude to LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez for over a decade of dedicated service to students and communities across the County,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District. “Through his courageous leadership and steadfast advocacy, LACCD’s nine campuses have become essential in expanding equitable access to education, empowering hundreds of thousands of students to pursue diverse and rapidly growing degree and certificate pathways. His leadership has laid a strong foundation for the continued growth of innovative education and workforce development opportunities for students. I wish him all the best in this new chapter.”

“Los Angeles Unified and LACCD share a strong commitment to empowering every student with the tools to succeed in college, career and life,” said Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “Chancellor Rodriguez’s leadership has been central to the expansion of dual enrollment programs in the region, delivering our deserving students with a significant advantage for success in postsecondary degree programs and pathways.”

“Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez’s leadership is a model of integrity and transformation,” said Miguel Santana. “He consistently places students and the community at the heart of his work, referencing his own lived experience to inform his approach to driving meaningful, student- and community-focused change. I am confident that Chancellor Rodriguez’s legacy will continue to inspire and impact future generations of scholars.”

“Leadership in education is about more than guiding students—it’s about shaping the future of our communities and strengthening our regional economy through strong degree and certificate programs,” said Maria S. Salinas, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez has been instrumental in driving forward initiatives that not only support students but also uplift entire families and communities. His vision and dedication over the past decade have strengthened the foundation of our regional workforce. He leaves a legacy of positive impact on the District and the broader community."

“Dr. Francisco Rodriguez is a tremendous equity-driven leader who has made a profound impact on public education in Los Angeles County,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. “His leadership is consistently guided by the principle of 'What is best for students' as his North Star. He is an innovative and courageous leader whom I deeply admire and respect. Dr. Rodriguez brings joy, energy, and enthusiasm to every space he enters, inspiring others to do what’s right for students. He has also been a remarkable connector across the PK-14 continuum, fostering collaboration and unity throughout our educational system.”

“Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez championed the LA Metro GoPass from the start, recognizing the importance of affordable transportation for students’ academic and economic success,” said Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “His commitment to creating cross-sector partnerships that remove barriers and promote equity has greatly improved access to education for tens of thousands of LACCD students. As he retires, we thank him for his leadership and his lasting impact on students' lives.”

“Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez has been a champion for students and a friend to our university. Over his tenure, Dr. Rodriguez has collaborated with state colleges and universities to clear pathways for students to access high-quality, affordable educational opportunities,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. “California State University, Dominguez Hills is proud of our partnership with LACCD, working together to ensure that students from all backgrounds can pursue their academic goals and build meaningful careers, and enhancing direct access to the rich educational resources that exist on campuses like CSUDH.”

“Chancellor Rodriguez is one of the most influential and impactful leaders in all of higher education,” said California State University, Sacramento President Luke Wood. “From his roots in the Los Rios system to MiraCosta College to the Los Angeles district, he has created opportunities for upward socio and economic mobility for society's most minoritized student communities. He has fiercely advocated for faculty diversity and inclusion and has an authentic, caring approach that made him a hero to us in the higher education community. As a former student of Dr. Rodriguez, during his time teaching at Sacramento State, til now, I celebrate his success and contributions to our field.”

“As Chancellor of the nation’s largest community college district for over a decade, Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez’s dedication to uplifting the hopes and aspirations of all students has made a tremendous impact on our community,” said Assemblymember Mike Fong. “I thank him for his leadership and partnership, especially during my time as a LACCD Trustee, as our work together was pivotal in expanding access to higher education and placing our students on the path to success.”

"Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez is a distinguished UC Davis alum whose leadership and commitment to education have made a profound impact on our community and beyond," said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. "Chancellor Rodriguez exemplifies the core values of UC Davis — academic excellence, inclusion, public service and upward mobility. His leadership, including his current service as the Chancellor in Residence of the UC Davis Wheelhouse Center for Community College Leadership and Research, reflects the commitment to fostering equity and opportunity that defines our institution. His unwavering dedication to advancing public education and improving access for all students will continue to inspire generations to empower students and transform lives."

"Chancellor Rodriguez leaves a legacy of access and opportunity,” said UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. “The doors that he opened for countless students don’t close with his retirement, as many were the first in their families to go to college, thus, his contribution to higher education will live on for generations.”

As Chancellor Rodriguez concludes his tenure, his legacy of transformative leadership leaves an indelible mark on LACCD and the broader community. His tireless commitment to advancing educational equity, expanding opportunities, and creating pathways for all students will continue to inspire future leaders and students. His work has empowered generations of students, strengthened partnerships across the state, and positioned LACCD as a national model of innovation, engagement and inclusion. As we bid farewell, we celebrate Chancellor Rodriguez’s extraordinary contributions and look forward to seeing the lasting impact of his leadership in the years to come.