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Dr. Maria Sheehan, President of College of the Desert

With more than 30 years of community college experience, Superintendent/President of the Desert Community College District, Dr. Maria Sheehan has a lot to be proud of.

Prior to working for the Desert Community College District, Dr. Sheehan was president of Modesto Junior College, and she is credited with having a central role in the revitalization of the Modesto Junior College (MJC) Foundation. During her six year presidency, she brought in a $3 million gift to build a new student center, restructured the administrative organization, addressed and turned around deficits, ensured fiscal solvency and brought Michel Gorbachev to campus.

In 2001, a search began for the Superintendent/President of the Desert Community College District. Presidents of community colleges from all across the state were recruited for the position. In the final stages of the interviews, the top three candidates were all women, who had been in their current positions for significant amounts of time.

At the end of the search, Dr. Sheehan was appointed to the position of Superintendent/President of the Desert Community College District. Under her leadership, she has developed the blueprint for the future of the College, including an Educational Master Plan, a Facilities Master Plan and had the most successful bond campaign in the state.

Dr. Sheehan enjoys almost every facet of her job, but what she gets the most enjoyment from is knowing that she has helped to change lives.

"I enjoy knowing that community colleges can change students' lives," said Dr. Sheehan. "Seeing students progress and make changes in their lives is rewarding."

As the President of the College, she was able to work with William Berry Campaigns Inc., leading to the passage of a $346.5 million bond measure, aimed to repair existing facilities.

"The community was very supportive of anything that had to do with safety," said Dr. Sheehan. "The residents were not willing to let the buildings fall to the ground."

During the search for a campaign consultant, Dr. Sheehan understood that finding a good match between a district and a campaign consultant is very important. She was impressed with William Berry Campaigns Inc.'s proposal and credentials, but what really attracted the district to WBC was Bill's energy.

"Bill's level of energy and his personality were unmatched," said Dr. Sheehan. "The match with a consultant is going to be different for every district. Bill and William Berry Campaigns Inc. worked with the district, the CEO and the fundraising arm in such a great manner and made our experience enjoyable."

In addition to serving as President/Superintendent of the Desert Community College District, Dr. Sheehan is also a founding member of the California Community College Latina Leadership Network. She currently serves as a member of the Board of the National Community College Hispanic Council and was recently elected a member to the Board of American Association of Community Colleges. She is an active member of the Palm Desert Rotary Club and she serves as the Vice President on the Board of Directors of United Way of the Desert.