After nearly 40 years with the Contra Costa Community College District — the last four as chancellor — Mojdeh Mehdizadeh will retire Dec. 30, Richmond Confidential reported.
Micaela Ochoa, the district's executive vice chancellor of administrative services since 2022, will serve as interim chancellor through the end of July. Mehdizadeh said Ochoa has fiscal and human resources experience, attends Governing Board meetings and is on the labor negotiations team.
Mehdizadeh's tenure
Mehdizadeh, a Diablo Valley College alum, became interim chancellor in 2022 after predecessor Bryan Reece resigned following a tumultuous 15 months during which he was twice placed on administrative leave. Under her leadership, headcount across the district's three colleges rose from a three-year trailing average of 42,858 to 45,503, and the district operates on a $265 million budget with about $52 million in reserves, according to Richmond Confidential. The district publishes its headcount and enrollment data annually on its research quick-facts page.
"She makes sure all the resources are well utilized, and really meaningful for students," said Governing Board member Andy Li. Board President Diana Honig said she doesn't expect the district to lose momentum during the transition.