CAMPUS
NEWS
Q&A
CHANCELLOR’S EXIT INTERVIEW
After a nearly decade-long career as RSCCD Chancellor Raul Rodriguez leaves the
district behind with a mix of controversies, successes and no regrets. Through it all,
Rodriguez says he has developed a thick skin and a determined mindset to overcome
prejudicial barriers and rise to the highest levels of academia. / Jason Solares
What do you think have been
your accomplishments?
I’m very proud of our track record
on hiring diverse faculty. I’m
happy to say that our percentage
of Latino and other minorities.
This year looks promising. It’s
important to have that [diversity]
given our demographics with
a number of Latino and Asian
students. Students need to see
their role models that are like
themselves. We prominently
have white faculty, its important
to change the faculty, that’s one
thing that is important to me.
With accomplishments comes
failure. Is there anything you
were disappointed in or would
like to take back?
Yeah, I’m sure. We all make
mistakes. I got involved with
politics with another district
[Coast Community College
District]. When they got rid
of their Chancellor who was
African-American. I wrote him
a message because I was so
ticked off that they were going
to fire after only three years. It’s
unfortunate that it became public
because it probably embarrassed
the district but in the end I stand
behind what I said.
Do you think either party has
benefited from it?
We helped a little bit, but the
trouble with any reform effort
is that you’re facing many
obstacles. We can model certain
behaviors for them, specific
ways for approaching issues in
the classroom. But they have a
different mentality.
Nikki Nelsen / el Don
How did you handle the
pressure/backlash from the
Rancho-Baha Partnership
(Saudi Arabia deal)?
I’m not saying I’m immune to
criticism, but I’ve learned how to
handle it, so I try not to internalize
it too much. I try to put out the
rationale. That’s why our board
was okay with it they understood
we’re trying to help, we’re
educators. This is what we do.
Rather than exclude people, we
want to include people.
If you could do it over, is there
anything that you would do
differently or take back?
You always wish you can go back
with hindsight and do things bet-
ter. I’ve had a difficult relationship
with the union, and they’ve been
very critical on me. I believe part
of it, I’m not saying all of it, but
part of it is racist. I wish I would’ve
had better relations with some of
the faculty leadership. I learned a
long time ago that if you’re going
to be a president or chancellor
who’s going to push for change,
it’s not a popularity contest
With your name comes
controversy. What do you want
to say to the people who put the
controversy behind your name?
If you look at the stuff that’s
written about me, it’s all opinion.
There are little facts but they try
to twist it a certain way and put
a pin on it, but it’s not accurate.
They try to pin me as a racist, as a
misogynist because of the Saudi
deal. The people that know me
and work with me every single
day know that that’s not the case.
el Don Santa Ana College · June 2019
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