San José City College names new president

New SJCC head

Dr. Marilyn Flores was recently named the next president of San José City College (SJCC).

The board of the San José-Evergreen Community College District approved her appointment at its Dec. 9 meeting. Flores is scheduled to assume her new role on Jan. 12, 2026.

A first-generation college graduate and second-language learner herself, Flores has held a variety of leadership positions in her more than 25 years in the California Community Colleges system, most recently as superintendent/president of Rio Hondo College in Whittier. She also served as interim president of Santa Ana College and vice president of academic affairs at Santiago Canyon College.

“Dr. Flores is a distinguished educational leader with a proven track record of advancing institutions and improving student success,” said district chancellor Dr. Beatriz Chaidez in a release, adding that Flores’ name rose to the top in a nationwide search “after reviewing dozens of applications from a deep and diverse pool of highly qualified candidates, conducting two rounds of interviews and (holding) virtual candidate forums.”

Flores said she’ll continue to support SJCC’s work to  “ensure access, equity and success for the diverse community we serve.”

A Wheelhouse Fellow from UC Davis, Flores earned her PhD in institutional leadership and policy studies from UC Riverside, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in education and Spanish. Flores also holds a master’s degree in education from UCLA.

The college district includes the areas served by Milpitas Unified School District, San José Unified School District, and East Side Union High School District. In addition to San José City College, and Evergreen Valley College, the district includes the San José-Evergreen Community College Extension at Milpitas.