Superintendent/President Search 2025
We are searching for one highly qualified individual to become College of the Desert’s next Superintendent/President.
College of the Desert is seeking an individual with the right combination of experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead the district and stakeholders towards increased student success and overall institutional effectiveness.
Reporting to the Board of Trustees and working alongside the College of the Desert Foundation and local community and organizations, the Superintendent/President will work to sustain and amplify a culture of diversity, inclusivity and innovation in which students can thrive and achieve their academic and vocational goals.
Search Process and Timeline
Information about the presidential search process and timeline is available.
Search Timeline (As of January 17, 2025) - Download PDF Version
- Introductions – Search Committee members
- Overview, orientation, schedules, search committee role and responsibilities, AGB Search role
- Introduce Confidentiality Agreement
- Review of the timeline and search process
- Candidate Pool development process through AGB Search portal
- Committee members to receive link to determine committee meeting dates and times by February 24, 2025.
- Draft Candidate Assessment Form prior to search committee receiving access to the AGB Search portal (ShareFile)
- Draft semifinalist interview questions to be completed prior to access to the AGB Search portal
Search Committee Meeting #II (4 hours) - In-Person
- Anti-bias in the Search and Selection Process Workshop (2 hours)
- Review candidate assessment process
- Search update
- Confirm Candidate Assessment Form prior to search committee receiving access to the AGB Search portal (ShareFile)
- Discuss A=Competitive, B= Less Competitive C=Not Competitive folder format
- Review and confirmation of the semifinalist interview schedule
Search Chair will send the following to AGB Search
- Candidate Assessment Form Finalized
- Semifinalist interview questions finalized
AGB Search will provide instructions to access the secure website
Committee receives access to the AGB Search Portal to begin reviewing candidate materials
Select Semi-Finalists (Target 6 – 8 candidates)
- Consultants contact chosen candidates
- AGB Search starts reference checking, social media, and Courtlink background checks
- Review the semifinalist interview schedule
Semifinalist Interviews
- Conduct interviews over 2-3 days
- Interview 1 hour, candidate questions 30 minutes
- 15-minute break in between interviews
- 30-minute lunch break
- Debrief to select finalists (3 – 5) end of last day
- AGB Search provides initial due diligence reports
- Search Committee recommends 3-5 candidates for in person interviews with the board
- ABG Search initiates extensive background check on finalists
- AGB Search sends draft questions for finalists to system office
- Finalist Nexis/Lexus background checks and any other required or requested background information is completed
- Finalist Reference checks
- (3 - 5 candidates (not to exceed 5) in 1 Full Day) – Confidential Interviews Board interviews candidates
- Finalist Public Forums
- Finalist will be required to authorize Desert Community College District to have access to their prior employer’s personnel files in order to be considered for the position.
Board Approved Committee Structure
At its August 16, 2024, regular meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the Superintendent/President Search Committee structure. Due to the confidentiality of the process, only the structure will be posted.
Job Post
Interested candidates are invited to learn more about the superintendent/president position by reading the full job announcement.
