SWC News Center

SWC x USC: Building the Next Generation of Community College Leaders

By: Stephanie Kingston - February 26, 2026

Southwestern College is taking an ambitious step forward and bringing a world-class educational partner with it.

Through a new collaboration with the University of Southern California’s USC Rossier School of Education, Southwestern College has launched the Community College Innovation Scholars Program, a three-year, $4.2 million pilot designed to expand graduate education opportunities while strengthening leadership across California’s community college system.

“This program is more than a degree opportunity, it is a pipeline to leadership,” said Mark Sanchez, President/Superintendent of Southwestern College. “It positions Southwestern College as an agent of change. We will prepare innovators and high-level professionals for the workforce opportunities that exist and are emerging in our Cali-Baja region.”

Beginning in fall 2026 and for the next three years, a total of 120 Southwestern College faculty and staff members can pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in education through USC Rossier. Courses will be taught on the Chula Vista campus by USC faculty in a hybrid format that combines in-person instruction with online learning and academic experiences in Los Angeles. The model is designed with working professionals in mind:  rigorous, accessible and rooted in real-world practice.

The partnership places USC among a growing group of respected university collaborators offering programs at Southwestern, including the University of California San Diego, San Diego State University, California State University San Marcos, Arizona State University, Point Loma Nazarene University and National University.

For USC Rossier, an institution with nearly 150 years of experience preparing equity-centered leaders, the partnership reflects both innovation and access.

“We have global programs where we bring our faculty to places like Singapore, Finland, South Africa and Brazil,” said Pedro Noguera, dean of USC Rossier. “Why not Southwestern Community College?”

Noguera emphasized that while online learning increases access, the hybrid approach deepens engagement. “It’s hard when you’re a working professional to commute to USC to take classes,” he said. “Many courses can be offered online, but we can enhance them with immersive learning experiences where we bring our staff to Southwestern. That’s the model we’re creating here.”

Unlike short-term leadership institutes, the Innovation Scholars Program is degree-conferring and research-driven. Participants may pursue a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership, focused on equity-driven transformation and systemic reform, or a Master of Education in Learning Design with AI and Emerging Technologies, centered on building workforce-aligned, technology-forward learning environments.

Each scholar will complete an applied research project tackling real challenges facing community colleges from closing equity gaps and improving student persistence to strengthening workforce pathways and organizational effectiveness. The result is more than professional development; it is a built-in engine for institutional improvement.

To fully activate the initiative, Southwestern College is seeking $840,000 in catalytic support to leverage the broader $4.2 million investment. The impact, however, reaches well beyond campus. Located in the dynamic San Diego–Tijuana binational region, Southwestern College plays a critical role in preparing talent for cross-border industries such as health care, logistics and emerging technologies.

At its core, the Community College Innovation Scholars Program is grounded in a simple belief: when educators grow, institutions grow and students benefit.

By bringing the academic strength of USC Rossier directly into the community college setting, Southwestern College is investing not only in advanced degrees, but in leaders prepared to rethink systems, expand educational equity, transform workforce development and keep community colleges responsive to the needs of the region for decades to come.

If you are interested in supporting the Community College Innovation Scholars Program, please contact Sofia Salgado Robitaille at srobitaille@swccd.edu or 619-216-6613.