Through their leadership the Board of Directors provides a framework for policy development assuring professional competencies and advocacy for student enrichment. The Board of Directors consists of one representative from each member college and meets monthly with The Academy’s President.
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Jon Knolle, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Monterey Peninsula College
Dr. Jon Knolle currently serves as the Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Monterey Peninsula College where he provides leadership for
operations and activities within Academic Affairs,
including supporting programs and faculty in areas including curriculum, instruction, scheduling, enrollment management. Previously, Dr. Knolle served as Dean of Instruction responsible for leadership of
MPC’s distance online program, instructional
technology, the MPC Library, dual enrollment, adult education, and support for the Business & Technology
division. His research and professional activities have
focused on curriculum design, enrollment management, e-learning, instructional
design, social media, and communication technologies.
Vice Chairman of the Board
TBD
Director of the Board
Jeff DeFranco, M.A., Superintendent / President, Lake Tahoe Community College
A native Californian, Jeff DeFranco started at Lake Tahoe Community College in 2012. Before accepting the position as superintendent/president, he served as the college’s Vice President of Administrative Services. Jeff brings a unique array of experience, having worked in K-12, community colleges, and at four-year institutions. He earned his undergraduate degree from California State University, Chico and his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon. He is currently a doctoral student in Pepperdine University’s nationally-ranked Global Leadership and Change Ph.D. program. Jeff is an active member of the South Lake Tahoe community with his wife, Kasey, and their two sons. He is an enthusiastic believer in life-long learning and consistently strives to broaden his thinking, especially in the areas of leadership and driving positive change.
Director of the Board
Danni Redding-Lapuz, Vice President of Instruction, San Mateo Community College District
Provides vision and leadership for the Office of Instruction and six Instructional Divisions, including academic departments, learning communities, and academic support services (Library, Learning Center, Math Center, Writing Center, ESL Center, Communications Center), while supporting college-wide student learning outcome assessment, professional development programming, and curriculum development processes.
Director of the Board
Dr. Pedro Avila, Superintendent / President, Gavilan College
President Avila became Gavilan’s 8th President upon approval from the Gavilan Joint Community Districts Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
Previously, President Avila served as the Vice President of Student Services at Santa Rosa Junior College. He has worked in the community college system for 20 years and has led several successful initiatives to increase college-going rates for underrepresented student populations.
He was born and spent his childhood in Guadalajara, Mexico. In 1984, his family emigrated to the US to find better opportunities. Like many migrant families, they experienced poverty and housing insecurity hardships.
President Avila holds degrees in Latino studies and business from Fresno State University. A Master in Business Administration from Rockhurst University and a Certificate in Institutional Performance Assessment from Harvard’s Higher Education Institute. He holds a Doctorate in Community College Policy from the University of Maryland.
His administrative experience includes serving as Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, Admissions & Records, and Information Systems at State Center Community College District. At West Hills Community College District, he served as Vice President of Student Services and Vice-Chancellor of Institutional Effectiveness & Enrollment Management.
Dr. Avila’s work is grounded in his experiences as an immigrant, English-language learner, and first-generation college student.
Director of the Board
Dr. Raymond Gamba, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ohlone College
Dr. Gamba’s career in academia began at Chaffey College, where he taught Introduction to Psychology and Cross-Cultural Psychology. His passion for teaching and commitment to students led him to Fullerton College and subsequently to City College of San Francisco (CCSF). At CCSF, Dr. Gamba excelled as a tenured Psychology Instructor, department chair, and Dean during the college’s accreditation reaffirmation period. His leadership journey continued at West Valley College as the inaugural Dean of Social Science and West Valley Online, and most recently, he served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Lake Tahoe Community College.
Director of the Board
Graciano Mendoza, Vice President of Administrative Services, Hartnell College
Hartnell welcomes Graciano Mendoza to the position of vice president of administrative services on August 1, responsible for budgetary and fiscal operations, facilities and maintenance, public safety and emergency management, and food services operations. He has more than 28 years of experience in finance and administrative services, including 21 years with California Community Colleges.
Since 2021, Mendoza has served as vice president of administrative services at Gavilan College. From 2019 to 2021 he held the same title at Cañada College. Mendoza began his career in finance roles in higher education at Santa Clara University in 1993. He joined West Valley College as principal financial analyst in 2001, and then moved to the West Valley
Mission Community College District in 2004 to take the position of budget
manager. In 2010, he served as director of business services at Cabrillo College.
Graciano holds a Master of Business Administration degree with
concentrations in finance and international business and a Bachelor of
Science degree in accounting, both from Santa Clara University
Director of the Board
Paul Harvell, Vice President of Instruction, Cabrillo College
