2026 Palomar College Superintendent/President Search
Superintendent/President Search
The Palomar Community College District Governing Board invites applications beginning July 20, 2026, for the position of Superintendent/President. The Superintendent/President reports to an elected five-member Board that is seeking an individual with the personal and professional characteristics and qualifications as described herein.
About Our District
With the considerable talents of dedicated faculty, staff, administrators, and Governing Board members, Palomar College has provided excellence in education and services to the community since 1946. Students can choose from over 250 associate degree and certificate programs, pursue career training, or enjoy personal enrichment classes. Beginning in Fall 2026, Palomar will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Performance and Environmental Design.
Our faculty are award-winning scholars and practitioners, who are highly dedicated to the success of our students. We have an extensive list of recognized programs, including those designed to serve disproportionately impacted populations. In May 2025, thirty students graduated from our Rising Scholars program, which provides currently and formerly incarcerated individuals with a smooth transition into the Palomar College community. Further, Palomar College is a leader in Credit for Prior Learning, providing more than 3,600 students with credit for experience and learning outside the classroom.
The College has been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. We serve a diverse population of 29,000 part-time and full-time students. Forty percent of our student body is within the traditional college student age range of 18-24. Approximately 52% of our students are Hispanic, while 30% are White; 5% are Asian/Pacific Islander; 6% are multi-ethnic; 3% are African American/Black; 2% are Filipino; one half percent is Native American; and 1.4% have not disclosed their ethnicity.
The District is roughly 2,500 square miles and serves one of the largest veterans and active duty student populations in California. Palomar College has a campus in San Marcos, California, and there are Education Centers in the City of Escondido, and in the communities of Fallbrook in the northern portion of the District, and in Rancho Bernardo, which serves the southern region.
Due to an educational facilities improvement bond passed by voters in 2006, the District has designed and established many new buildings, all built with sustainability in mind, and state-of-the-art technologies to better serve students and employees. The final three projects are underway with the remaining bond funds as recently allocated by the Governing Board.
The 2024-25 Palomar College Annual Report is available on our Palomar News website.
Our Economic Impact
For nearly 80 years, Palomar College has been serving the educational needs of the northern region of San Diego County. A 2023 study conducted by Lightcast using data from the 2021-22 academic year, found that Palomar College has a $1 billion economic impact on San Diego County, enough to support more than 10,300 jobs, or one out of every 43 jobs within its service area. This aligns with our mission to provide an education that leads to higher-paying careers for hundreds of thousands of alumni. For example, the study also indicated Palomar College alumni with an associate’s degree earn about $10,000 more annually than those with a high school diploma, which amounts to $414,100 over a lifetime of earnings.
Our Region
North County San Diego is home to all of the district’s locations and offers a diverse, largely suburban region north of San Diego city, stretching from the coast of the Pacific Ocean to inland areas like Escondido and San Marcos. Known for its affluent communities, sprawling landscape, and thriving industries, it offers a mix of coastal, foothill, and rural environments allowing easy access to everything in Southern California and a mild climate year-round.
The Palomar Community College District Governing Board invites applications for the position of Superintendent/President. The Superintendent/President reports to an elected five-member Board that is seeking an individual with the personal and professional characteristics and qualifications as described herein.