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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ventura County Community College District Chancellor Announces Conclusion of Service in 2027
CAMARILLO, Calif. (June 18, 2026) — Chancellor Rick MacLennan has announced that he will conclude his service with the Ventura County Community College District upon the expiration of his current contract on June 30, 2027.
Since becoming Chancellor in 2022, MacLennan has advanced a more unified districtwide approach focused on student success, workforce opportunity, institutional partnership, and regional responsiveness.
That approach was reflected in the development of Community Colleges of Ventura County (CCVC) 2035, a long-term strategic framework designed to strengthen collaboration across the colleges while advancing educational access, economic mobility, and responsiveness to the evolving needs of Ventura County communities.
During his tenure, the district expanded bachelor's degree opportunities, allowing more Ventura County residents to earn affordable four-year degrees close to home while meeting critical workforce needs in the region. In addition, MacLennan strengthened partnerships across the educational continuum, expanding collaboration with K-12 school districts and California State University Channel Islands to support student access, transfer, and workforce preparation.
The district's focus on student success and workforce preparation extended beyond education. Under MacLennan's leadership, the district expanded its partnership with Naval Base Ventura County and broadened engagement with employers, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, local governments, and community partners to better align educational pathways with workforce and economic development priorities. The district’s regional engagement also included collaborative efforts such as 126 Forward, an initiative centered on strengthening economic opportunity, workforce alignment, and long-term regional planning within the Santa Clara River Valley.
Within the district, MacLennan emphasized leadership development and succession planning, grounded in the belief that investing in employees strengthens the organization and creates opportunities for future leaders to grow and advance within the community college system and the region.
Throughout his career and tenure as Chancellor, MacLennan has remained deeply engaged in veterans support and advocacy. He currently serves as co-chair of the Veterans Caucus of the Community College League of California, where he continues to champion expanded support and opportunities for military-connected students across the community college system.
His commitment to service has also extended throughout Ventura County, where he has served in leadership roles with organizations including Food Share of Ventura County, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families, and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.
"Serving as Chancellor for the Community Colleges of Ventura County has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life," MacLennan said. "Leading this district has never felt like a job to me. It has been a responsibility I have been privileged to carry, and I am deeply grateful to the students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners who make this work meaningful every day."
MacLennan plans to remain fully engaged in leading the district through the remainder of his current contract term.
Additional information regarding the Chancellor search process will be shared in the coming months.
About Ventura County Community College District
The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 116-campus California Community College system and serves approximately 30,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges — Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura — offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, visit vcccd.edu.
Media Contact:
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