Torres re-elected chair; Chancer elected vice chair at annual meeting
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At its Annual Organizational Meeting on Dec.16, the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) Board of Trustees re-elected Gabriela Torres to serve as board chair for a second term.
First elected to the board in 2018, Torres has focused on student access, equity, and college-community partnerships during her service. She represents Area 5, which covers CSU Channel Islands, Colonia, Mandalay Bay, Silver Strand, Hollywood Beach and Hollywood by the Sea, Channel Islands Harbor, Port Hueneme, Oxnard Plain, Naval Base V.C. Port Hueneme and portions of El Rio.
“I’m honored to continue serving as Board Chair and to uphold our district’s commitment to student equity, inclusion, and access," said Torres. "Every student deserves to feel a sense of belonging and to have the opportunity to thrive, and I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees and our community to support that vision. Our strength as a district comes from listening to and learning from the diverse voices we serve.”
The Board also elected Trustee Joshua Chancer to serve as vice chair in the coming year.
A Ventura County educator and Ventura College alum, Chancer has also served on the board since 2018. He represents Area 1, which includes Ventura, Saticoy, Montalvo, portions of El Rio, Ojai Valley, City of Ojai, Riverpark, Northwest Oxnard, Meiners Oaks, Wheeler Springs, Oakview and North Coast.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as vice chair and to help advance a student experience across our three colleges that reflects our values and our mission,” said Chancer.
In addition to Chair Torres and Vice Chair Chancer, the board includes Trustee Stan Mantooth representing Area 3, Trustee Lou Lichtl representing Area 2, Trustee Joe Piechowski representing Area 4, and Student Trustee Amir Ayash.
The five-member board collaborates with the chancellor to adopt policies that guide the business of the District and its three colleges—Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura Colleges—in service of student success and community needs. Trustees are elected to four-year terms by Ventura County voters in even-numbered years; the student trustee is elected annually through a districtwide student election.
The next board of trustees meeting is Jan. 20, 2026, at the Ventura County Community College District Administrative Center and live-streamed by Zoom. Detailed information regarding board meetings is available at vcccd.edu/board-of-trustees.