Black Woman New President at Mesa College
Constance Carroll, 47, has been named president of San Diego Mesa College, ending a search that began last summer when former President Allen Brooks was promoted to an administrative position within the San Diego Community College District.
Carroll’s appointment, effective Feb. 1, makes her the first African-American woman president in the history of the San Diego Community College District. Carroll, a Greek scholar who has served as president of Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo since 1983, was the unanimous choice of an 18-member search committee.
Carroll on Wednesday applauded Mesa College for remaining “on the cutting edge” of education, despite tough economic times. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to work with the faculty and staff, both of which are known in California and the nation as really top-flight,” Carroll said.
College officials are “excited and happy to see her coming on board,” said district Trustee Denise Moreno Ducheny. “We were really lucky to get someone with her kind of experience. We really believe that she’s going to be a real asset for the college.”
“Constance has a unique blend of characteristics . . . she’s someone who knows how to solve problems,” District Chancellor Augustine Gallego said. “She knows how to bring people together, to work with people.”
Mesa College, with 27,000 students, is one of the nation’s largest community colleges. Its sister colleges are City College and Miramar College.
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