The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) Governing Board has extended the contract of Dr. Steven R. Gonzales to serve as MCCCD Interim Chancellor after serving in the interim role since January 2020. During last night's governing board meeting, the MCCCD Governing Board voted unanimously to approve a two-year appointment of Dr. Steven R. Gonzales as Interim Chancellor. This appointment represents continuity at this time of transition from the impact of the pandemic and a move toward greater stability for the District and the communities we serve.
"I am honored to serve our System for an additional two years," said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, MCCCD Interim Chancellor. "The Maricopa Community Colleges and our community mean a great deal to me, and I look forward to building our programs that benefit our economy, workforce, and ultimately, the individual. Higher education should be accessible to all, and that's our plan. We're going to continue to improve the workplace experience so that our employees can meet our students' needs while positively contributing to the student experience and creating high-quality levels of learning."
"I appreciate Dr. Gonzales’ willingness to continue to serve our System in the capacity of Interim Chancellor as we work together to anchor greater stability and momentum for our students and community stakeholders,” said Ms. Marie Sullivan, MCCCD Governing Board President. “During Dr. Gonzales’s time as Interim Chancellor, he has dealt with the unexpected impact of a pandemic, which generated enrollment and financial concerns, and a cybersecurity challenge. He has demonstrated a renewed commitment to shared governance and collaboration with the faculty, staff, and Governing Board members to advance the District’s mission."
Dr. Gonzales’ community involvement includes previously or currently serving on the Terro’s Health Board of Directors, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board of Directors, Greater Phoenix Leadership, American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors, Phoenix Forward Healthcare Leadership Council, the City of Phoenix Workforce Development Board of Directors, Degree Phoenix Advisory Committee, Phoenix Community Alliance-Education Advisory Committee as well as Health and Bioscience, AZ Town Hall, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton’s Transit Oriented Development Council, Van Buren Civic Association, Mountain Park Health Centers’ Stakeholders’ Committee, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Coolidge Rotary, and the Pinal County Town Hall Executive Planning Committee and the Resolution Copper Education Advisory Committee.
Dr. Gonzales earned his doctorate in educational administration in the top-ranked Community College Leadership Program from the University of Texas at Austin. His doctoral research focused primarily on the improvement of developmental education. He was awarded a University Preemptive Fellowship, as well as the John and Suanne Roueche Fellowship. He holds a master of arts in teaching mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in secondary education – mathematics from Northern Arizona University.
More information about Dr. Gonzales can be found here, and his headshot can be found here.