State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith announced she will be retiring by September 2026.

The leader who oversaw some of the district’s biggest expansion and fundraising efforts said she would step down at the start of the 2026-27 school year. She made the announcement Thursday in the district’s Fresno downtown office.

She said she leaves at a time the system has one of its highest enrollment rates and transfer rates, and is in sound financial condition. Clovis Community College again received a distinction for high transfer rates, Fresno City College’s 20,000-student-plus enrollment levels mark it for additional money, and the Reedley and Madera colleges’ rural students are “shattering graduation rates.”

“I know that I leave this district in good hands. I’m well prepared and they’re prepared for what’s next,” Goldsmith said. “One of the greatest joys that I’ve had is being able to watch growth and its fitting. We live in the Central Valley. We grow things.”

Fresno City College West Opened

Goldsmith began her career in education more than 30 years ago as a middle school teacher. She was vice principal at Cesar Chavez Education Center before becoming an adjunct professor and then president of West Hills College. From West Hills College, she moved on to president of Fresno City College and then to the district chancellor.

The district’s board president, Danielle Parra, noted Goldsmith’s accomplishments.

During her tenure, voters approved Measure Q, which allocated $700 million in new investments for facilities. She expanded partnerships with K-12 districts, opening up college credit programs for high school students, Parra said.

During her tenure, the district also opened the Fresno City College West Campus.

“She builds a culture centered around kindness and opportunity for every student, and where every student knows they belong,” Parra said. “Her impact extends far beyond this district.”

Nationwide Search Probable: Parra

Parra said the district would likely choose the next chancellor similarly to the process five years ago when Goldsmith was chosen. The district did a nationwide search with an open forum for top candidates before selecting Goldsmith.

Parra added that Deputy Chancellor Christine Holt-McDonald could also offer support.

“We had some really great consultants and what really made a difference was our committee. It was made up of district-wide faculty, staff, students, community members,” Parra said. “It was really a representation of who we serve.

She said the next chancellor should continue the district’s focus on associates degrees and on career technical education.

During Goldsmith’s tenure, CTE greatly expanded.

The district built its first responder campus for police and fire training. Reedley College opened its Federation of Advanced Manufacturing and Education, providing manufacturing and maintenance education — a first for the Western United States, Goldsmith said.

Clovis Community also recently debuted a new model in higher education in its competency-based education in agriculture, which focuses on skill assessments for certification as opposed to degree-based education.

“We believe in honoring lived experiences, whether they’re returning vets, first-generation students, or agricultural workers whose labor has long cultivated this valley to be something great,” Goldsmith said. “We believe in their ability. We’ve also embraced the wisdom of our industry partners … our programs reflect the real needs of our region and the real lives of our students.”

Goldsmith Tenure Came With Difficulties

Goldsmith’s tenure also came with its difficulties. Goldsmith had to navigate Covid restrictions while both president of Fresno City College and district chancellor.

Faculty unrest arose that largely came to the surface after litigation from former Fresno City College basketball coach Ed Madec for wrongful termination. The district fired Madec for allegedly making threats against administrators. Back-and-forth between court appeals ended with a judge earlier this year upholding Madec’s termination.

The faculty union filed an ethics complaint against Goldsmith for awarding a $161,000 contract to a friend and “goddaughter” of hers to mediate between educational organizations.

The district maintains that there is no familial relationship between Goldsmith and Ashlee Hernandez, a person the chancellor frequently referred to as “goddaughter.”