Senator Jack Scott Selected as Next Chancellor of California Community Colleges

"His extraordinary experience and demonstrated commitment to our community colleges is unsurpassed, " said Lance Izumi, President of the Board of Governors. "Our entire board is extremely gratified to have somebody with Dr. Scott's stature leading the California Community Colleges."

"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 tothe Legislature. I look forward to continuing as an advocate for this remarkable educational institution," Dr. Scott said in accepting the position. "The future of our state economy and even the California dream are tied to increasing the number of Californians who both enter and complete their college education. That is why the community colleges are so important. They can provide California a competitive edge in the global economy."

A member of the State Legislature since 1997, Dr. Scott authored 86 bills in the Senate and 72 bills in the Assembly that were signed into law. From the beginning, he has been a champion of education issues and was successful in authoring several key bills important to the community colleges that were signed into law. Senate Bill 361, a landmark community college financing measure, was authored by Senator Scott and signed by the Governor in 2006. Also in 2006, Senator Scott led the charge in passing Senate Bill 1309 that helped address the state's nursing shortage. Senator Scott 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.

“While in the Senate, Jack Scott has worked tirelessly to protect higher education,” said Senate president pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland). “No one in better equipped to lead the California Community College system. California's students are lucky to have such a passionate and knowledgeable leader on their side.”

Senator Bob Margett (R-Glendora) state, “Senator Jack Scott is a respected and exceptional leader. His professional and legislative experience is an enormous asset in the higher education community. He will have the support of Republicans and Democrats.”

Dr. Scott will be succeeding Interim Chancellor Diane Woodruff who came out of retirement to take this important post until a permanent Chancellor could be appointed. “Chancellor Woodruff has done an exceptional job in the short time she has served and we are grateful for her effective leadership over the past several months, “ said President Izumi. Chancellor Woodruff will remain Interim Chancellor until Dr. Scott takes over on January 1, 2009.

“I am ecstatic that Senator Scott has been chosen as the next Chancellor of the California Community College3s. there is nobody I know who has a better background and experience to be successful in this position. He has not only served in the Legislature for 11 years and knows everyone in the Capitol, but he has also been a California Community College President at two different colleges so he knows our system well. In addition, he is a wonderful person and a beloved figure in our system. His heart never left the community colleges and we are all so happy to welcome him back. I look forward to working closely with him so we can have a seamless transition,. “ said Interim Chancellor Woodruff.

Dr. Scott is currently the State Senator from the 21^st District which includes Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, a portion of the city of Los Angeles, and other surrounding cities and communities. He serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, which considers all legislative measures dealing with K-12 education and the state's colleges and universities. His committee has legislative oversight for a wide range of issues dealing with education.

Senator Scott is also Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education, which oversees approximately 48 percent of California's state budget. Among his other committee assignments, Senator Scott is Vice Chair of the State Allocation Board of Education.

Senator Scott has been named Legislator of the Year by many organization, including the California Federation of Teachers, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Association of California Community College Administrators, Association of Boards, California State University, California Association of Health Facilities, California Trucking Association, and American Nursing Association.

Dr. Scott also received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University in 1991. In 1993 he received the Harry Buttimer Award, given annually to tow distinguished administrator in the California Community Colleges. He was named the Alumnus of the Year at the Claremont Graduate University in 2000 and at Abilene Christian University in 2003. He was also presented Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges in 2008 and California Community Colleges in 2006.

Dr. Scott is a past president of the Association of California Community Colleges Administrators and the former chair of the Accrediting Commission of Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Prior to being elected to the State Legislature, Dr. Scott was President of Pasadena City College beginning in 1987. The hallmark of Dr. Scott's presidency was the launching and completion of a $100 million master plan to meet the college's needs into the 21^st century. Although state funding declined during Dr. Scott's presidency, the college balanced the budge, laid-ff no members of its faculty and staff, and maintained an educational program of high quality. Pasadena City College had reserve funds of more than $6 million when he retired in 1995.

Dr. Scott is a Distinguished Professor of Higher Education at Peperdine University and is the first person to be honored as President Emeritus of Pasadena City College.

Previously, Dr. Scott was a teacher and administrator at Pepperdine University for 10 years before he became the Dean of Instruction at Orange Coast College in 1973. Five years later, in 1978, he became the President of Cypress College.

Dr. Scott was born in Sweetwater, Texas, and graduated from high school there. He met his future wife, Lacreta, while they were students at Abilene Christian University. They were married after Dr. Scott received his Bachelor's degree. He later earned a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University, as well as a Ph.D. in American history from Claremont Graduate University.

Senator Scott and Lacreta have five children: Sharon Mitchell; Sheila Head; Amy Schones; Greg Scott; and their fifth child Adam, who died at the age of 27. They also have ten grandchildren.