Palomar College Governing Board Selects Next Leader

SAN MARCOS, CA (November 5, 2026) — Following a national search that engaged district and community stakeholders, the Palomar Community College District (PCCD) Governing Board announced their selection of Dr. Tina Recalde as the Superintendent/President during a special meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2026. Dr. Recalde will be the 12th Superintendent/President in the 80-year history of the district. Employment contract details are being finalized and will be presented for formal approval at the Governing Board meeting on November 10, 2026. Dr. Recalde, has been serving as the district’s Interim Superintendent/President since December 2025.

After returning to open session from a closed session held to confer and evaluate candidates for the position, Governing Board Chair Dr. Holly Hamilton-Bleakley stated, “As Board Chair, representing the will of the Board, I fully believe, and feel strongly, that we have identified the best person to guide, support, and lead Palomar College at this particular time, and that person is Dr. Tina Recalde.”

She added, “We are grateful to all district employees, students, and community members who took the time to either attend or view the candidate forums and provided valuable feedback for the Board. We heard you, and we see you, and we appreciate your comments and insights.”

As Superintendent/President, Dr. Recalde will continue to oversee a community college district encompassing 2,555 square miles in North San Diego County and an annual budget of $586 million. She will lead the district’s strategic planning process, guide student success initiatives, and direct short- and long-term fiscal stability efforts.

Palomar College serves over 29,000 students at its San Marcos campus and education centers in Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, and Fallbrook. The college offers more than 250 degrees and certificates, including a Bachelor of Science in Building Performance and Environmental Design that launched at the start of the fall semester.

“I am honored by the Governing Board’s unanimous decision to continue to serve as the Superintendent/President of Palomar College. Our success is centered on serving the comprehensive educational and workforce training needs of our students and working adults within our district. I am committed to collaborating with our staff, faculty, and administrators to continue this work and to provide opportunities for economic and social mobility that will positively impact our communities now and into the future,” said Dr. Recalde.

Dr. Recalde brings more than 30 years of progressive community college leadership experience to this position. Up until her appointment as Interim Superintendent/President in December 2025, she served as the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction at Palomar College. During the last four years, Dr. Recalde has positively impacted student success through the design and implementation of a student-first-focused class scheduling strategy which provides students with a clear pathway to degree and certificate completion. She was also integral in the development and launch of the district’s first bachelor’s degree. Dr. Recalde remains focused on strengthening relationships with elected officials and government agencies, and partnerships with K-12 districts, business, industry, and nonprofit organizations.

“I am thrilled to lead the district in its 80th year of serving the educational and workforce needs of our region. I am looking forward to continuing this work to truly transform lives for a better future,” said Dr. Recalde.

Before coming to Palomar College in January 2023, Dr. Recalde was the Dean of Health Sciences and Public Service at San Diego Mesa College for seven years. She also served as an acting dean, program director, and as a faculty member at San Diego Mesa College. She started her career in the community college system as an athletic trainer and adjunct faculty member at both San Diego Miramar College and Southwestern Community College.

Dr. Recalde earned a Bachelor of Science at the University of California San Diego, a Master of Science at Middle Tennessee State University, and her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California. In 2007, she put her knowledge and talent into action at Tri-City Medical Center as a physical therapist for four years, during which time she developed and coordinated the North San Diego County Sports Medicine Program.

Palomar College Governing Board Selects Next Leader

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