November 6, 2024
Dear Colleagues:
After thoughtful consideration, the De Anza College President Search Committee has recommended four candidates to move forward to the next stage of the
selection process. The finalists have been invited to visit campus next week to participate
in additional interviews and open forums.
In order of their campus visits, the finalists are:
Tuesday, November 12
Sobia Khan, provost, East and Lake Nona Campuses, Valencia College
Wednesday, November 13
Tia Robinson-Cooper, former chancellor, South Bend-Elkhart campus, Ivy Tech Community Colleges
Thursday, November 14
Omar Torres, assistant superintendent/vice president of instruction, College of the Canyons
Friday, November 15
Kimberlee Messina, president, Spokane Falls Community College
You can learn more about each of the finalists on the De Anza College president search website.
Open Forums
I hope you will take the time to participate in the candidate open forums at 3 p.m.
each day either in person in Hinson Campus Center Conference Rooms A and B or virtually. Links
to join the forums virtually will be posted on the De Anza College president search website and shared in updated calendar invitations.
If you would like to submit a question to be considered for inclusion in the candidate
forums, please complete the form available at the following link by 5 p.m. on Friday,
November 8: https://forms.office.com/r/Cd39g7Nj17.
Constituent Group Meetings with the Candidates
In addition to the open forums, finalists will meet with senior staff, campus administrators,
classified professionals, faculty, students, the district’s executive leadership team
and the Foothill-De Anza Foundation.
Providing Feedback
Individuals who attend the constituency group meetings and/or open forums will be
asked to submit confidential feedback to me via survey forms that will be made available
online on the president search website.
After all candidates have completed their visits, recordings of the open forums will
be posted online to provide an opportunity for anyone unable to attend to hear from
the candidates and provide feedback.
The president should be a unifying leader who can articulate a clear vision and inspire dedication to achieving the college’s core mission and values; an innovative leader
who seeks a long-term career in a dynamic setting; and an empathetic leader who is
committed to academic excellence, student equity and student success.
Your participation in this process and insights regarding the candidates will be of
great help to me in choosing the best person to lead De Anza. I am approaching this decision with an open mind and look forward to learning which of the candidates you
think best meets the college’s needs.
Please join me in welcoming the finalists to our outstanding district and in thanking
the search committee in bringing us such excellent candidates for De Anza’s next president!
Sincerely,
Lee D. Lambert, J.D.
Chancellor