CONTACT: Letitia Clark, MPP - 949.582.4920 - lclark31@socccd.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2020 Dr. John Hernandez Accepts Position of Irvine Valley College President MISSION VIEJO, CA— A nationwide search, candidate interviews, and public forums were held via Zoom in the selection process to identify the next Irvine Valley College President. After a several month process, a decision has been made, and Chancellor Kathleen Burke has announced that she is recommending that Dr. John Hernandez serve in the role as Irvine Valley College’s new president. Dr. Hernandez has been an educator for over 30 years – 22 of those years in administration. He was appointed President of Santiago Canyon College (Orange, CA) in July 2017 and served as Interim President there from July 2016 until his permanent appointment. Prior to that, he was the college’s Vice President for Student Services (2005 to July 2016). Before joining Santiago Canyon College, Dr. Hernandez was Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Cal Poly Pomona; Associate Dean for Student Development at Santa Ana College and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at California State University, Fullerton. Additionally, Dr. Hernandez has been an adjunct instructor in the Student Development in the Higher Education graduate program at California State University, Long Beach and taught counseling and student development courses at various colleges as well. Dr. Hernandez will immediately begin the transition process from his role as President of Santiago Canyon College within the Rancho Santiago Community College District. He is expected to start at Irvine Valley College on August 1, 2020, pending ratification of his contract by the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) Board of Trustees. “The Irvine Valley College community has experienced many changes within the last year and has done so with a wonderful sense of comradery, professionalism, and vision for the future. We are glad to know that even in the midst of COVID-19, the process to select a new Irvine Valley College President continued,” said Board President T.J. Prendergast. SOCCCD Chancellor Kathleen F. Burke, Ed.D. said, “We are extremely excited to welcome Dr. John Hernandez and have all the confidence that he will lead the Irvine Valley College in the next wave of progress and development. I am thankful to Dr. Cindy Vyskocil for her service and leadership during her time as Interim President. She helped establish a campus environment that will provide Dr. Hernandez a strong foundation from which to start.” ### About the South Orange County Community College District: SOCCCD serves nearly 50,000 students per year through our two colleges, Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College. The district serves nearly one million residents and employs more than 3,000 faculty and staff. .