Dr. Ed Gould, a veteran California community college leader, will become Superintendent and President of Imperial Valley College April 15.

The Imperial Valley College Board of Trustees finalized contract negotiations Feb. 27 with Gould, who is currently the Associate Dean for Higher Education and Corporate Programs in the School of Education at Capella University. His contract will run through June 30, 2011.

He will be IVC's seventh President.

Gould replaces former Superintendent/President Dr. Paul Pai who took a job last July as President of Saint Louis (Missouri) Community College at Meramec.

Gary Rodgers, a long-time IVC faculty member, has been serving as interim Superintendent/President since that time.

"I am very appreciative of the job that Gary Rodgers has done as the Interim President, and I look forward to continuing the climate and culture he has created during his service to the district. IVC has a very strong leadership team and I look forward to working with them, as well as with the outstanding Board, faculty and staff of the district."

Gould added "I will seek to establish from the beginning the climate and culture that all elements of the district are working together to provide outstanding educational programs and services to meet the needs of the residents of the district as well as carry out the well-developed mission of the college."

Gould has extensive community college background. He was formerly Vice Chancellor of Student Services and Special Programs for the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges, President and Superintendent of three California Community Colleges, and Vice President and Dean of Student Services at three other community colleges in California and Nevada.

In his current capacity, Gould oversees all the academic activities at Capella University for Higher Education Leadership, Adult and Postsecondary Education, Professional Studies, Enrollment Management, Instructional Design in Online Learning and Training and Performance Improvement. He has also served Capella as a faculty member and Department Chairperson of the Department of Higher Education Leadership.

His tenure in community colleges includes the roles of Director of Counseling and Special Services, Counselor, and instructor of counseling and psychology courses.

He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Counselor Education and Higher Education Leadership and designed graduate programs in higher education and community college leadership for two universities.

Gould also has been a middle school counselor and taught parent education to adults for several years. He has experience in business at the corporate level, serving as the Vice President for Academic and Government Affairs at eCollege and Executive Director of eCollege's Center for Internet Technology in Education (CiTESM).

Gould holds degrees from Hartnell College (A.A., History), California State University Hayward (B.A. History), San Diego State College (M.S. Counseling) and the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a Doctorate in Education in Counseling and Personnel Services.

He also is a noted national speaker on the Trends and Challenges of Higher Education and other higher education topics with a focus on community colleges. His passion is providing access to higher education for all residents in America and developing the next generation of leaders in community colleges.