NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: August 28, 2024
For further information contact:
Ryan Brown: Phone: 408-531-6172 | Email: ryan.brown@sjeccd.edu
New President Named for Evergreen Valley College
(San Jose, Calif.) — Following a nationwide search, Dr. Vinicio J. López has been named the ninth president of Evergreen Valley College (EVC) upon a unanimous vote by the San José – Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) board of trustees.
A first-generation college student who began his higher education journey as a community college student himself, López has almost 25 years of experience as a community college faculty member and administrator.
After serving as an English as a Second Language faculty member, López, a native Spanish speaker, transitioned into administration where he currently serves as vice president of instruction at Skyline College in San Bruno, California.
“Throughout the search process, Dr. López demonstrated a deep commitment to our District’s core values of opportunity, equity, and social justice,” said Dr. Beatriz Chaidez, SJECCD chancellor. “We are very fortunate to have someone with his breadth and depth of experience and skills to serve as the next president of Evergreen Valley College.”
In addition to his current role at Skyline College, López has experience overseeing student affairs, non-credit and workforce education, dual enrollment, and international education programs, among others. His prior administrative experience includes serving as senior international education officer and dean of the Mission Campus for San Francisco City College. He has also served as dean of the Le-Jao Campus for Coastline College in Fountain Valley, California.
“I am humbled and excited to be joining Evergreen Valley College as the next president,” Dr. López said. “EVC is one of the premier community colleges in California and I look forward to working with my new colleagues among the faculty, classified staff, and administration to continue that commitment to excellence.”
At Skyline College, Dr. López is recognized for his collaboration with all stakeholders and constituency groups in order to create and implement initiatives that promote a student-first campus.
“Dr. López illustrated a deep commitment to serving and partnering with our most vulnerable students,” said Tony Alexander, SJECCD board of trustees president. “He understands how to foster an inclusive and welcoming learning environment that is informed by the lived experiences and voices of students and he is passionate about mentorship and the development of a future generation of leaders. The board of trustees is confident that Dr. López will be a great president for EVC.”
Among his other duties at Skyline, López is co-chair of the Enrollment Strategies Committee—a successful collegewide collaboration between students, classified professionals, faculty, and administrators—where he led development of a five-year enrollment management plan to increase student enrollment, retention, and completion.
“I would like to thank the board of trustees, Chancellor Chaidez, and the search committee for placing their confidence in me,” López said. “I look forward to working with all campus constituent groups to serve our students and help them reach their academic and career goals and to create a culture where students feel their dreams are our dreams.”
López holds a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership, administration and policy from Pepperdine University; a Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of Phoenix; a bachelor’s degree in history from University of California, San Diego; and an associate degree in social and behavioral sciences from Miramar College.
López is scheduled to begin in his new role as EVC president on September 16.