In November 2009, Barry Russell was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the California Community College Chancellor's Office.  A graduate of the Community College Leadership Program (1991) at the University of Texas at Austin, he also holds degrees in music from Texas A&M University - Commerce (previously East Texas State University).

Prior to becoming the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Russell served as Vice President of Instruction at College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California.  He also served as the Dean of Fine Arts and Communication at Cerritos College and held the same position at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, before moving to Cerritos.

Dr. Russell served as Director of the Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium and was a faculty member in music and computer science at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas.  He is active in both state and national community college organizations serving as a board member representing northern California for the organization of California Community College Chief Instruction Officers.  In 2009, Dr. Russell was awarded the Instructional Leadership Award from the National Instructional Administrators - an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Under the direction of Vice Chancellor Russell, the Academic Affairs Division oversees the delivery of leadership and technical assistance, enhancing the capacity of the community colleges in the areas of academic planning, program approval, and review of degrees and certificates.  Specific areas under this division include Credit and Noncredit Program and Course Approval, Library and Learning Resources Programs, Basic Skills/ESL, Noncredit Adult and Continuing Education, International Education, Distance Learning, Special Project Management and Grants, Minimum Qualifications, Middle College High School, Career Advancement Academies, CTE Teacher Preparation Pathways, Systemwide Technical Assistance, Compressed and Flex Calendars, Intersegmental Policy and Program Development, and Coordination with the Statewide Academic Senate and the Chief Instructional Officers.