San Diego Community College District

On December 5, the Academic Senate of the University of California Berkeley presented the 2022 Clark Kerr Award to Dr. Constance Carroll, Chancellor Emerita of the San Diego Community College District.  Following her recent retirement from the district, Carroll founded and currently serves as president of the California Community College Baccalaureate Association.

The co-recipient this year was Dr. Tim White, retired chancellor of the California State University system.

In 1968, the Berkeley Division of the University of California’s Academic Senate created the Clark Kerr Award as a tribute to the leadership and legacy of UC President Emeritus Kerr, and to recognize an individual who has made an extraordinary and distinguished contribution to the advancement of higher education.  Past recipients have come from both within and outside of the Berkeley community, including such individuals as California Governor and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, former Harvard University President Derek Bok, and on the community college side, Eduardo Padron, former president of Miami Dade College.

The award was co-presented by the UC Berkeley Academic Senate and Chancellor Carol Christ, who noted Carroll’s years of leadership and accomplishments at two universities, several community colleges, including the San Diego district, and her national service.  “In 2011,” Chancellor Christ noted, “Constance Carroll was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate to serve on the National Council on the Humanities, a post she currently holds today.”  Her leadership and activism in other arenas were also noted, including California’s legislation enabling community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in various workforce fields. Berkeley Academic Senate Chair Ronald Cohen stated, “Your remarkable accomplishments place you in the rare category of exceptional individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the advancement of higher education, as envisioned by the award.”

In accepting the award, Carroll stated, “My entire career has been about service to students.  Having grown up Baltimore, Maryland, during segregation where many opportunities were denied to me because of my race, I determined that my professional life would be dedicated to providing and expanding opportunities to students, all students, not just those who are privileged.  The fact that I chose to work in the community college arena and my recent efforts to promote baccalaureate programs at local community colleges reflect that commitment. This award is even more special because I had to opportunity to meet Clark Kerr in the 1980s, when I was one of the people he interviewed for his book, The Many Lives of Academic Presidents.  He was an extraordinary educator, and this award gives me a cherished connection with his legacy.”

Bernie Rhinerson, current SDCCD board member, praised Carroll for her effectiveness. “Constance is a true servant leader who always put students at the forefront of her decisions,” said Rhinerson. “As our chancellor, she had an amazing ability to bring people together to move forward toward a common goal.”

Carroll’s career includes administrative roles at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Southern Maine.  In California, she held presidencies at Indian Valley Colleges in Marin County, Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, and Mesa College in San Diego, following which she became the longest-serving chancellor of the San Diego Community College District with 17 years in that position.  Carroll earned a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Duquesne University, both a master’s and Ph.D. in Classics (ancient Greek and Latin) from the University of Pittsburgh, a Certificate of Proficiency in Hellenic Studies from Knubly University in Athens, Greece, and a certificate from the Harvard Institute for Educational Management.