Editor’s note: The story has been updated to reflect Cortez’s resignation.
San Diego Community College District Chancellor Carlos Cortez has announced that he has resigned from his position, according to a May 1 email from Board of Trustees Chair Maria Nieto Señor.
Cortez had previously announced on March 24 that he was taking “extended emergency family leave” to care for his ailing parents in Florida.
In a May 1 email statement, Cortez said, “I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together over the past two years on behalf of our students and the community we serve. My time in the district , both as president of the College of Continuing Education and as district chancellor, has been the highlight of my career thus far.”
Gregory Smith, vice chancellor for People, Culture and Technology Services, who has served as acting chancellor during Cortez’s absence, will continue in that role. The decision to appoint Smith to the position was made “with the full support of the Board of Trustees,” according to Cortez’s March 24 email.
SDCCD Communications and Public Relations Director Jack Beresford says it will be business as usual. Beresford speaks highly of acting Chancellor Smith and says Smith has been working closely with Chancellor Cortez as well as the district’s Board of Trustees and has a strong sense of what is expected of him. According to Beresford, Smith has earned “considerable respect” in the district and is well equipped to ensure a smooth transition.
According to a Mesa Press article published in December 2022, Smith helped reorganize the district office to benefit its employees. At the Chancellor’s Forum in 2022, Smith announced that HR would be called “People, Culture and Technology Services” thereafter. The purpose of this, he said, was to “set the tone for what the culture of our institution will be.” His role in cultivating a positive and supportive work environment is just one of the reasons why Smith has earned the approval of SDCCD employees.
Cortez became chancellor in July 2021, amid school closures and online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. It helped facilitate the safe reopening of schools, one of its main goals from the beginning. Reinstating face-to-face classes also led to an increase in enrollment rates, a priority for Cortez.
However, Cortez’s tenure was not without controversy. In May 2022, it was announced that renowned author Alice Walker would be a featured guest at his investiture. Walker’s recent writings and association with anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist David Icke had been condemned by various Jewish organizations as being anti-Semitic, although Walker denied this. Instead of canceling Walker’s appearance, he canceled the entire inauguration, which was scheduled to take place at Petco Park. Additionally, Cortez deleted his presence on the district’s social media after several faculty members publicly disagreed with him over Walker’s invitation.
At the Chancellor’s Forum in Mesa in 2022, Cortez outlined his priorities for the 2022-2023 school year. His main areas of focus were advertising, enrollment and funding, all of which he sought to increase. He proposed that increased funding for advertising would result in more student enrollment, which would provide more funding to the district.
During his time serving SDCCD, Chancellor Cortez has prioritized the district’s mission: to provide high-quality learning experiences for the San Diego community at an affordable price. At the chancellor’s forum in 2022, Cortez said this mission “should always be the North Star that guides our work.”
In accordance with In Nieto Señor’s email, the search for a new chancellor will begin.
