Palomar College leader leaving amid board tensions

Palomar College’s superintendent and president will take a new position in Riverside next month as the school community grapples with disagreements over diversity-related policies and procedures.

The Riverside Community College District board of trustees voted unanimously Nov. 3 to hire Star Rivera-Lacey as the district’s new deputy chancellor and provost beginning Dec. 1.

The board room burst into applause when her appointment was announced.

“It’s so nice to have you here in this room and in this district, and bringing your energy, your smile, your commitment and dedication,” Trustee Keri Then said. “Everything you bring with you is going to be so well received here.”

Rivera-Lacey told the board that she was grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting community college students, particularly as a first-generation college graduate who started her higher education journey at MiraCosta College in Oceanside.

“I believe that my appointment symbolizes hope, and esperanza, for a brighter future for so many of our students,” she told the Riverside board.

Rivera-Lacey was hired on a two-year agreement that runs through Nov. 30, 2027. She will earn $331,824 per year along with a monthly $750 business expense allowance.

Palomar Community College District Governing Board President Jacqueline Kaiser said she will remember her time with Rivera-Lacey for her positive attitude and encouragement.

“We all wish her the very best in her new role,” she said. “We’re all very excited for her.”

Palomar College is based in San Marcos and has an enrolment of approximately 29,000 students with education centers in Escondido, Fallbrook and Rancho Bernardo.

When she started as superintendent and president, Rivera-Lacey inherited a financial crisis that could have led to state takeover of the college’s finances.

A big part of Rivera-Lacey’s legacy will be the way she “deftly navigated” the school out of the dire financial situation, said Lawrence Hamilton Lawson, co-president of the Palomar Faculty Federation and a professor of English as a second language.

Anel Gonzalez, president of the Palomar College Council of Classified Employees, said she was particularly inspired by Rivera-Lacey because their backgrounds were very similar.

“When she became the first Latino president of Palomar, it really felt very historic, not just for her, but for families like mine,” she said. “It meant something deeply symbolic to see someone who has walked the same path we do.”

Students at the school also praised Rivera-Lacey’s leadership and commitment.

“You seldom hear of leaders in the education sector so dedicated and personally invested to not only helping students and building opportunities for them, but also this eagerness to get to know us, hearing about our lives, and helping us however they can,” Student Trustee Ariel Fridman said.

Rivera-Lacey’s departure comes at a time when the school’s governing board has been split on issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Hamilton Lawson said the board majority that began in December has been “openly hostile” on these topics, which he says are important to many at the college.

“There’s just a political agenda to the board majority that has been creeping in for a while,” he said, adding that he thinks that agenda has held back Rivera-Lacey.

The Palomar Community College District Governing Board voted 3-2 last month to replace an anti-racism policy with a subcommittee to explore other options. Proponents of the changes said the policy was unnecessary, while others said they wanted the policy to remain in place as the committee did its work. The board also voted 3-2 in April to remove land acknowledgements from meetings, a move some community members have criticized.

These moves happened at a time when institutions of higher education across the country have faced pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration and others to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and policies.

Gonzalez said she was disappointed that Rivera-Lacey is leaving during such a difficult time for staff and faculty.

“As a union leader myself, I could never imagine walking away when things get difficult,” she explained.

However, Board President Kaiser said Lacey-Rivera remained resilient with a “can-do attitude,” even during challenging times.

“During difficult circumstances that might arise or competing viewpoints, she always found a positive way to move forward,” she said.

Rivera-Lacey’s last day at Palomar will be Nov. 30. Starting Dec. 1, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction Tina Recalde will be acting superintendent and president.

Ultimately, it will be up to the governing board to select Rivera-Lacey’s replacement. Board policy lays out the steps leading up to the selection, which include the creation of a search committee, identification of desired qualifications, recruitment, interviews, campus visits, public forums and board interviews.

Kaiser said she expect the process to look similar to how it has in the past.

She said the board is excited to keep the college moving forward with their pick to replace Rivera-Lacey.

“I think education is really in some challenging times right now, and I personally would want someone to have a really forward-thinking kind of attitude and perspective,” Kaiser said.

Hamilton Lawson and Gonzalez said they hope the process to replace Rivera-Lacey will include voices from all constituents and bring another leader focused on student success and enrollment.

“We want a president who would actually shepherd us though the college mission and values, leading with integrity and courage, and centering everything around students,” Gonzalez said.

Rivera-Lacey’s roots in North County run deep. She was born in Oceanside and graduated from El Camino High School. She got her first taste of school leadership as a student representative on the Oceanside Unified School District Board of Trustees.

In March, she was named Distinguished Woman of the Year for California State Assembly District 76, which includes San Marcos and Escondido. It was a recognition of her dedication to expanding educational opportunities and empowering learners.

She has worked in the community college system in California for more than 25 years, including positions at MiraCosta College, the San Diego Community College District, and San Diego College of Continuing Education.

She came to Palomar College in 2019 as assistant superintendent/vice president of student services. She left after a year in that role but returned in 2021 as superintendent and president.

Her memories of Palomar College, however, go back much farther. As a child, she remembers exploring the campus while her parents, who immigrated here from El Salvador, took English as a second language classes.

Rivera-Lacey said she thinks the school is in a favorable position to continue as a leader in higher education.

“I am grateful for the time I have had as the leader of Palomar College during the last 4.5 years,” she said in a statement. “It has been a rewarding part of my career and, as a college, we have achieved many important milestones, including increased enrollment, strong financial standing, and expansion of educational opportunities throughout the district.”