The EdUp Experience What Happens When AI Meets 116 Community Colleges? - with Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, Deputy Chancellor, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
Sep 10, 2025
Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, Deputy Chancellor at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, sheds light on innovative initiatives aimed at reducing the student equity gap. She discusses her transition from college president to system-level leadership and the balance between embracing technology and maintaining the human touch in education. Tomaneng highlights the role of AI in transforming community colleges and enhancing student support, alongside efforts like Vision 2030 that empower underserved communities and improve educational outcomes.
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Scale Of The California System
- California Community Colleges serve 116 colleges and about 2.2 million students, reflecting post-pandemic recovery.
- That scale makes it the largest higher education system in the U.S. and shapes system-level priorities.
Lean System Office Demands Talent
- The chancellor's office operates with a very lean central staff, far smaller than peer higher-ed systems.
- That requires highly skilled hires and substantial workload sharing across the team.
Make Strategic Plans Living Documents
- Treat Vision 2030 as a living document and refresh it with stakeholder input every few years.
- Build demonstration projects and microsites to test and publicly share progress on strategic goals.
