November 02, 2022
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Executive Vice Chancellor Lizette Navarette, EdD, has been named interim deputy chancellor of California Community Colleges, becoming the second woman to hold the position following the promotion of Daisy Gonzales, PhD, to interim chancellor in August.
“California community colleges have a led heroic efforts throughout the pandemic and now have a tremendous opportunity to continue to close equity gaps and eliminate regional achievement gaps. Dr. Navarette brings the technical and leadership skills necessary to support our 116-college system through the next phase of implementation of our strategic plan, the Vision for Success,” said Gonzales. “Dr. Navarette’s personal background resembles that of many of the students that we serve, and I am proud to lead alongside her.”
As interim deputy chancellor, Navarette will be responsible for coordinating the office of Institutional Supports and Success; Innovation, Data, Evidence, and Analytics; and Equitable Student Learning, Experience and Impact. Her primary duties involve implementing and tracking the commitments and goals in the Vision for Success and Gov. Newsom’s Roadmap for the Future, which sets multi-year goals and resources, to drive equitable improvements in credential attainment and transfer outcomes across all state higher education segments.
Navarette brings nearly two decades of higher education and local government experience to this role. She’s been with the Chancellor’s Office since 2020 and previously served as executive vice chancellor of Institutional Supports and Success. She oversaw the College Finance and Facilities Planning, Institutional Effectiveness and Government Relations divisions, which are responsible for formulating policies that determine the distribution of local assistance and capital outlay funds for the state’s 73 community college districts, professional development which advances student success, and state and federal matters for the system. Prior to that, Navarette served as the vice chancellor of College Finance and Facilities Planning responsible for aligning budget policy with the Vision for Success.
Navarette has been instrumental in supporting the California Community Colleges response to the pandemic and has led the strategic implementation of critical statewide policies on student success, college affordability, equity and district fiscal health. These policies include launching essential tools and resources for student centered funding implementation, building a coalition of legislative and college leaders to establish an affordable student housing program and unit for California Community Colleges; and working to secure historic investments in district and agency capacity to implement the Vision for Success. She continues to lead modernization of funding regulations to better enable districts to meet student needs. Navarette’s research interests focus on post-traditional learners, particularly strategies to support the success of adult and working learners.
Before joining the Chancellor’s Office, Navarette served as vice president of the Community College League of California, where she oversaw budget and policy advocacy for California's community college districts. She also served as the associate director of regional relations for the University of California, Riverside, and as the Youth & Education Coordinator for the City of Riverside, where she oversaw several youth programs, education policy and partnerships.
Navarette earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from UC Riverside, where she also served as student body president. She earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne and a doctorate in education from UC Davis. Navarette is a proud first-generation graduate.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 1.8 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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