To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Report Title: RECOGNIZING MOJDEH MEHDIZADEH, CHANCELLOR OF THE CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, UPON HER RETIREMENT AND FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT resolution recognizing Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, Chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District, upon her retirement and for her extraordinary career of service, leadership, and advocacy for educational excellence.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
See resolution.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None.
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
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IN THE MATTER OF RECOGNIZING MOJDEH MEHDIZADEH, CHANCELLOR OF THE CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, UPON HER RETIREMENT AND FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
WHEREAS, Mojdeh Mehdizadeh was selected as the 10th permanent Chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) in January 2024, following her appointment as Interim Chancellor in February 2022, bringing to the position an exceptional 39-year career of dedicated service to the District and its students, faculty, staff, and communities; and
WHEREAS, Chancellor Mehdizadeh began her career with 4CD as a student worker while completing her undergraduate requirements at Diablo Valley College, an experience that helped shape her enduring appreciation for the transformative power of community colleges and their essential role in expanding educational access, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from San Francisco State University and a Master of Arts in Organizational and Intercultural Communications from California State University, East Bay; and
WHEREAS, throughout her distinguished career, Chancellor Mehdizadeh served in nearly two dozen positions within 4CD, including adjunct faculty member, Assessment Center Technician, College Research Coordinator, Technology Applications Manager, President of Contra Costa College, Vice Chancellor of Technology Systems, Executive Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology, and Interim Chancellor, demonstrating an extraordinary breadth of institutional knowledge, professional dedication, and leadership; and
WHEREAS, for more than 25 years, Chancellor Mehdizadeh has served in executive leadership roles, providing continuity, strategic direction, and thoughtful stewardship while advancing 4CD’s mission to transform lives through education, while responsibly assessing, planning, organizing, and evaluating district resources, programs, and services to ensure that Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, and Los Medanos College, remain responsive to the evolving needs of students and the region; and
WHEREAS, Chancellor Mehdizadeh guided the development of a District Strategic Plan that serves as the foundation for the colleges’ Educational Strategic Plans, reinforced a shared vision for educational excellence, institutional effectiveness, and student achievement, and strengthened the District’s commitment to participatory governance by fostering an institutional culture of collaboration and inclusive decision-making, while concurrently re-envisioning and relaunching the 4CD Leadership Institute and implementing the Faculty Diversity Internship Program to cultivate leadership capacity and broaden pathways to professional advancement within higher education; and
WHEREAS, Chancellor Mehdizadeh’s commitment to equitable and affordable education extends beyond 4CD through her participation in state, federal, and other entities where she continues to help shape statewide efforts in advancing excellent and affordable postsecondary education for all students. Her community service and advocacy include local service on the boards of the East Bay Leadership Council, the Kennedy-King Memorial Scholarship Committee, RCF Connects, and Richmond Promise, the California Community Colleges Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee and the Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Team, and the Community College League of California; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby commends and honors Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, Chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District for her extraordinary 39-year career of service, exemplary leadership, and unwavering commitment to educational excellence, equity, access, and student achievement. The Board extends its heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on her well-deserved retirement, recognizing that her legacy of service, compassion, and belief in the potential of every student will continue to open doors, strengthen communities, and positively shape the future of Contra Costa County for generations to come.