Jack Scott appointed statewide Chancellor
Senator will lead California Community College system
Reginald James
Issue date: 5/22/08 Last update: 5/22/08 at 7:14 PM PST
Section: Features
California State Senator Jack Scott (D-Pasadena) was named the next state Chancellor by the Board of Governors for the California Community Colleges.The California Community College Chancellor's Office oversees the 109-college system, the largest system of higher education in the world.
Prior to election to the Legislature in 1996, Scott served as president of Pasadena City College and Cypress College in Fullerton. He currently chairs the Senate Education Committee and Senate budget Subcommittee on Education Finance.
"I am very pleased to have this wonderful opportunity to lead the largest higher education system in the nation. I spent 23 years working in the community colleges before coming to the Legislature," said Scott. "The future of our state economy and even the California Dream are tied to increasing the number of California who both enter and complete their college education."
President of the Board of Governors Lance Izumi expressed his optimism over Dr. Scott's appointment.
"His extraordinary experience and demonstrated commitment to our community colleges is unsurpassed," said Izumi. "Our entire board is extremely gratified to have somebody with Dr. Scott's stature leading the California Community Colleges."
As a member of the State Legislature since 1997, Scot authored 86 bills in the Senate and 72 bills in the Assembly that were signed into law. Among the important community college bills passed into law are Senate Bill 361, a landmark community college financing measure that was signed by the Governor in 2006 and Senate Bill 1309 that helped address the state's nursing shortage.
Scott also worked with Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005 to pass Senate Bill 70, a measure that strengthens career technical education programs between K-12, community colleges, and the business sector.
Laney President Frank Chong looks forward to working with Scott in "advocating for our fair share of the state budget" for California Community Colleges.
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