Dr. Cynthia Azari, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Educational Services at State Center Community College District has been selected as president of Fresno City College.

She is the first female to lead the 98-year-old college; she takes the reigns of FCC on Jan. 2.

SCCCD Chancellor Thomas Crow and the Board of Trustees made the announcement Monday.

“[Azari] has a strong track record of success, well earned success, and I think she is a perfect fit for the position,” said Crow.

Former President of FCC, Dr. Doffoney said, “I’m very pleased with the college and district’s choice. Dr. Azari is a talented and capable leader who will certainly propel the college to new heights.”

Many gathered for the historic announcement delivered outside the President’s Office.

Light refreshments were served as FCC’s new president fielded questions.

Azari said her biggest challenge would be “just becoming a part of the campus.” She added, “I think the top priority is to ensure that we continue to provide quality education, and that’s ensuring that we have the resources, both human and financial…with the downturn in the economy that’s also a challenge.”

On anything she wanted to change immediately, Azari said, “At this point no; I don’t have anything I want to change; I do want to start planning for the centennial.”

Azari addressed FCC’s increasing enrollment as community colleges across the nation face decreased enrollment.

“We are looking at the sections where we have wait lists, and if we’re able to provide more, a lot of it has to do with space. But we’re also increasing our distance education, so that when you have a class that’s offered online you don’t need a classroom, but we are seeing wait lists and we want to try to accommodate as many students as possible.”

Azari said in a previous interview with the Rampage. “I bring a passion for student success and I believe that FCC is a premier institution in this state; I will continue to build upon the foundation of excellence that has been laid…I will bring a spirit of collaboration, open communication and trust.” 

Before joining SCCCD, Azari served as President of Butler Community College in Butler, Pennsylvania.   She has an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Seattle University, a Masters in Industrial Relation and a Masters in Education Administration from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government, with a minor in History from Houston College.