Porterville College Announces Finalists in Nationwide Presidential Search

Porterville College (PC) and the Kern Community College District (KernCCD) are pleased to announce the three finalists in the nationwide search for the next President of Porterville College. The search committee has selected three accomplished leaders, each with a strong commitment to student success and community engagement, to advance to the final stage of the selection process.

The three finalists are: 

Primavera Monarrez

Ms. Monarrez is a seasoned higher education leader with over 20 years of experience across community colleges and universities. A proud Central Valley native, first-generation college student, and product of the California community college system, she deeply understands students’ challenges and aspirations.

Since July 2024, she has served as Interim President of Porterville College, where she emphasizes transparency, inclusion, and collaboration. Under her leadership, the college has strengthened enrollment, expanded dual enrollment programs, addressed facility needs, enhanced participatory governance, and advanced efforts to improve access, persistence, and regional economic mobility.
Previously, Ms. Monarrez was Vice President of Student Services at Porterville College and Dean of Student Success at Taft College, with earlier leadership at Bakersfield College and CSU Bakersfield. She has secured competitive grants, improved accreditation processes, and built strong partnerships with K-12 schools, universities, and community organizations.

Beyond her professional roles, she serves on local boards and organizations. Dedicated to advancing student success, she works to ensure higher education remains responsive to student and regional needs. Monarrez holds a BA in Sociology and MS in Counseling/Student Affairs from CSU Bakersfield and is currently pursuing a doctorate.

Dr. Jesse Pisors

Dr. Pisors has dedicated 27 years to educational leadership, with executive experience at every level, from K-12 schools to universities.

Most recently, he served as President of Pasco-Hernando State College, a multi-campus community college in Florida with 500 full-time faculty and staff and 9,800 students pursuing 90 certificate, associate and bachelor’s degree programs.

Previously, Dr. Pisors served for eight years as a Vice President in the University of Houston and Texas A&M University Systems, where he directed fundraising, external relations, grants, marketing and communications. 

He also has classroom teaching experience, having taught humanities, history and public speaking as an adjunct instructor at middle school, high school, community college and university levels.

Dr. Pisors grew up working on dairy farms in rural Wisconsin. He is deeply grateful for a donor-funded scholarship that made it possible for him to earn his undergraduate degree, giving him special appreciation both for the transformational power of post-secondary education and philanthropy. 

His time as a K-12 school Principal in Chihuahua, Mexico, along with the influence of his wife (who he met when she was an international student from Mexico), has given him fluency in Spanish and a profound appreciation for Hispanic culture and diverse communities.

Dr. Tia Robinson-Cooper

Dr. Robinson-Cooper is a visionary and equity-minded higher education leader with more than 20 years of executive experience as Chancellor, President, and Provost across Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and California. She is a passionate advocate for the transformative mission of community colleges and is known for driving measurable gains in enrollment, retention, completion, and workforce alignment.

Throughout her career, Dr. Robinson-Cooper has advanced student success through innovative, student-centered, and data-informed strategies. She has launched programs that removed systemic barriers, expanded dual credit and early college access, and closed equity gaps, particularly for first-generation, underrepresented, and justice-involved students. Her leadership style—collaborative, transparent, and servant-oriented—empowers faculty, staff, and students to thrive in a culture of shared vision and accountability.

She is recognized for forging cross-sector partnerships in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and public safety that align academic programs with regional workforce needs. She also led reforms in law enforcement education, emphasizing cultural competency and ethical leadership.

A strong fiscal steward and fundraiser, Dr. Robinson-Cooper has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, secured major grants and philanthropic support, and advanced long-term planning. She holds an Ed.D. in Counseling and Adult Higher Education, an MBA, an M.S. in Organizational Leadership, a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, and an A.S. in Business Administration.

Porterville College and the Kern Community College District invite the community, students, faculty, and staff to meet the candidates and participate in open forums to be held on campus. These forums provide an opportunity for the community to learn about each candidate’s vision for the future of the institution.

All forums will be held in the Student Center Conference Room on the Porterville College Campus 
(100 E. College Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257).

Open Forum Schedule:

• Monday, October 6, 2025, at 12:45 p.m. - Primavera Monarrez
• Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 12:45 p.m. - Dr. Jesse Pisors
• Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. - Dr. Tia Robinson-Cooper

“This is a significant moment for Porterville College. We are committed to finding a visionary leader who will uphold our values and continue to foster deep connections within the community, ensuring all students are set up for success, thereby supporting the economic growth and wellbeing of the region,” said Dr. Steven Bloomberg, Chancellor of the Kern Community College District. “We look forward to engaging with our community throughout this process to ensure we select the best candidate to lead Porterville College into its next chapter.”