College of Alameda President Search Opens, Due Nov. 12

College of Alameda is hiring a new president, and applications are due Thursday, November 12, 2026. The Peralta Community College District says it hopes to pick a finalist by mid-December so the new leader can start at the West End campus in Alameda, CA, on January 1, 2027.

• Where: College of Alameda, 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway, Alameda
• Deadline: Applications close November 12 at 11:59 p.m.
• Who decides: Peralta's Chancellor and Board of Trustees, after a 12-member search committee recommends finalists
• Public forums: Finalists visit campus December 7 and 8, with details still to come
• Start date: January 1, 2027

Who is running College of Alameda right now?

Peralta Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson is, and she's doing it herself. In a September 28 letter, she said that rather than bringing in an interim president for just a few months, she'd lead the college directly with its leadership team. The campus held a send-off reception for President Melanie Dixon on October 7.

When will College of Alameda have a new president?

The plan is January 1, 2027. Here's the road to get there:

• October 5: a campus listening session asked students and staff what they want in a leader.
• October 14: the search committee met for the first time.
• November 12: applications close.
• December 7 and 8: finalists come to campus for open forums.

It's a national search, run by HSV Consulting with Dr. Helen Benjamin and Dr. Cindy Miles. Applicants need a cover letter of up to five pages and 10 professional references: two supervisors, two direct reports, two faculty members, two classified staff and two community leaders. You can read the full profile on the College of Alameda president search page.

Who is on the search committee?

Twelve people: three administrators, three faculty members, three classified staff, two students and one community member. Vice Chancellor Dr. Tina Vasconcellos chairs it. Executive Vice President Dr. Nicole Porter, who the Pulse has covered before, has a seat, and so does Dwayne Dalman from the City of Alameda's workforce development side.

What this means for Alameda

This is the island's own college, founded in 1968. In 2025-26 it awarded 609 degrees and certificates and graduated 320 students, and 48.4% of its students are the first in their families to go to college. It's known for aviation maintenance, apparel design, transportation technology and dental assisting, and it runs on a $20.1 million general fund budget.

The next president steps in during a big shake-up. Peralta's trustees approved a District Transformation Plan on June 9, 2026, which includes merging Laney and Merritt into a new Oakland City College. The search page says the new president's job is to keep the college's own identity while working across the district.

If you care how the college serves the West End, the December forums are your chance to size up the finalists. Times haven't been announced yet, so keep an eye on the search page. More Alameda schools and education news is here.