Jose Gomez

Jose A. Gomez is Superintendent-President of Pasadena City College and a longtime leader in higher education and public service. Prior to joining PCC in 2023, he served as Executive Vice President, Provost, and Chief Operating Officer at California State University, Los Angeles, where he led transformative initiatives in philanthropy, research, student success, and civic partnerships—raising over $50 million and launching projects including a $30 million partnership with the Los Angeles Football Club and the Cal State LA BioSpace life sciences incubator. 

A first-generation college student, Gomez earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Cal Poly Pomona in 1993. As a student, he served as ASI president and chair of the Cal State Student Association. He later earned his Ph.D., M.A., and M.P.A. from the University of Southern California. He has remained deeply involved with Cal Poly Pomona, supporting programs such as the Dreamers Resource Center, CLASS, and the Basic Needs initiative, and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2019 and commencement speaker in 2021. 

Gomez previously served as a senior advisor in the California State Senate, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of the State Treasurer, and currently serves as a commissioner with the WASC Senior College and University Commission, in addition to holding board roles with organizations such as the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and the Western Justice Center.