Dr. Lori Gaskin began her service in 2016. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, and an M.A. in Geography and a B.A. in Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Gaskin retired in August, 2016 as Superintendent/President of Santa Barbara City College after four years. She previously served as the President of West Valley College for three years, and as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services, Acting Superintendent/President, and Dean of Instruction at Lake Tahoe Community College for 17 years. She began her career in higher education as a faculty member at Barstow College. Dr. Gaskin has experience in institutional planning, fiscal oversight,
Dr. Lori Gaskin began her service in 2016. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, and an M.A. in Geography and a B.A. in Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Gaskin retired in August, 2016 as Superintendent/President of Santa Barbara City College after four years. She previously served as the President of West Valley College for three years, and as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services, Acting Superintendent/President, and Dean of Instruction at Lake Tahoe Community College for 17 years. She began her career in higher education as a faculty member at Barstow College. Dr. Gaskin has experience in institutional planning, fiscal oversight, bond oversight, educational policies and practices, participatory governance, and institutional accountability. She has served on a total of six comprehensive evaluation and follow-up teams as chair and as a member.
With a distinguished decade-long tenure at the Ministry of Education Department within the Government of India, Dr. Sudheer Kumaar brings a wealth of experience to our team. His remarkable portfolio includes the evaluation of over 1500 educational institutes across India, encompassing diverse parameters on government projects. Furthermore, his impactful contributions extend to roles like Teaching Assistanship at IIT Bombay and as a National Service Scheme Member with the Government of India. We enthusiastically welcome Dr. Kumaar as our esteemed Peer Evaluator for the India Region. His inclusion promises to redefine and elevate educational standards, exemplifying our commitment to quality throughout the region.
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Mr. Michael Claire began his service in 2019. He is the Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District, where he works with the Board of Trustees and all stakeholders to develop and implement strategic, tactical, and operational plans to achieve the district mission and to improve student access and success. He supervises district staff and the college presidents of the district’s three colleges: Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. Prior to becoming interim Chancellor in 2019, Mr. Claire worked at College of San Mateo for most of his 30+ year career, serving as the President for thirteen years. He also served as Vice President of Instruction, Dean of the Technology Division, and as a faculty member, teaching accounting, business, and computer application courses. Mr. Claire has experience in strategic planning, fiscal management, educational master planning, and facilities planning. He has served on seven accreditation reaffirmation visits, chairing five of those visits, and on a number of follow-up visits. Mr. Claire holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in Business Administration, both from California State University, East Bay; and an A.A. in Business Administration from Cañada College. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Dr. Lori Gaskin began her service in 2016. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, and an M.A. in Geography and a B.A. in Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Gaskin retired in August, 2016 as Superintendent/President of Santa Barbara City College after four years. She previously served as the President of West Valley College for three years, and as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services, Acting Superintendent/President, and Dean of Instruction at Lake Tahoe Community College for 17 years. She began her career in higher education as a faculty member at Barstow College. Dr. Gaskin has experience in institutional planning, fiscal oversight, bond oversight, educational policies and practices, participatory governance, and institutional accountability. She has served on a total of six comprehensive evaluation and follow-up teams as chair and as a member.
Dr. M.P. Ayyappa Das, a seasoned academic and dynamic leader, joins the Global Standardization and Accreditation Agency (GSAAA) as the esteemed peer evaluator for the Indian region. With an extensive academic journey, he holds an M.Sc, M. Phil, and Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Bharathiar University, complemented by a PG Diploma in Bioinformatics. Currently serving as the Vice Principal and IQAC Coordinator at RVS College of Arts & Science, his profound influence has led the Department of Biotechnology under his aegis since 2006.
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Dr. David Broad began is service in 2022. He is the retired Vice President/General Manager of Oceanside Product Operations at Genentech, Inc., a biotechnology corporation. During his career in biotechnology, Dr. Broad became a biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing expert providing strategic and technical guidance related to the development, scale-up, manufacturing, and outsourcing for a wide range of biologics. He served in high-level management and executive positions working under Food and Drug Administration regulations and employee Good Manufacturing Practices to ensure Quality Assurance and continual improvement. In addition to his career in biotechnology, Dr. Broad is an outgoing Trustee at MiraCosta Community College where he ended his service in May 2022 after 11 years, six of which as President. He based his trusteeship on the belief that good governance and leadership are critical to ensuring community colleges can fulfil their mission to serve all members of the community. During his time as Trustee, he used his executive and leadership experience to help develop and stabilize trustee and CEO relations and was actively involved in the college’s reaffirmation of accreditation process. Dr. Broad also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), advocating for youth going through the foster system, and is a Commissioner on the Oceanside Manufactured Homes Fair Practices Commission. Dr. Broad holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and a B.Sc. in Microbiology, both from the University of London.
Mr. Michael Claire began his service in 2019. He is the Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District, where he works with the Board of Trustees and all stakeholders to develop and implement strategic, tactical, and operational plans to achieve the district mission and to improve student access and success. He supervises district staff and the college presidents of the district’s three colleges: Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. Prior to becoming interim Chancellor in 2019, Mr. Claire worked at College of San Mateo for most of his 30+ year career, serving as the President for thirteen years. He also served as Vice President of Instruction, Dean of the Technology Division, and as a faculty member, teaching accounting, business, and computer application courses. Mr. Claire has experience in strategic planning, fiscal management, educational master planning, and facilities planning. He has served on seven accreditation reaffirmation visits, chairing five of those visits, and on a number of follow-up visits. Mr. Claire holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in Business Administration, both from California State University, East Bay; and an A.A. in Business Administration from Cañada College. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Dr. Ralph Hexter began his service on the Commission in 2023. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Classics and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Davis, and for the UC system is chair of the President’s Advisory Committee on Research in the Humanities. He has held administrative positions at Yale University, where he started his teaching career; at the University of Colorado, Boulder; and at UC Berkeley, where he was chair of the Department of Comparative Literature, dean of arts & humanities, and executive Dean of the College of Letters & Science. From 2005-2010 he served as president of Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, and from 2011-2020 as provost & executive vice chancellor of UC Davis, during fifteen months of which time he served first as acting and then as interim chancellor. Both Hampshire College and UC Davis underwent successful reaccreditation reviews by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and WASC, respectively, during his time in leadership positions. For WASC he has served on two evaluation committees (for San Diego State University and UEM Madrid) and for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities he chaired the most recent reaccreditation review of the University of Washington. Dr. Hexter holds A.B., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard College, Oxford University, and Yale University, respectively.
Dr. Erika Lacro began her service in 2019. As Vice President for Community Colleges since 2019, she oversees the University of Hawaiʻi’s (UH) seven community colleges. Dr. Lacro has served in the UH system since 2002. She was the first woman Chancellor and served as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Honolulu Community College. She held executive and managerial positions at UH Mānoa School of Travel Industry Management and at Hawaiʻi’s largest resort. Dr. Lacro has chaired several ACCJC comprehensive review teams and is a former Commissioner for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. She is active nationally in Achieving the Dream, Complete College America, Global Community Colleges Leadership Network, and Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Internationally, she is on the board for Community Colleges for International Development. Dr. Lacro holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences; an M.S. in Travel Industry Management; and a B.S. in Travel Industry Management, Hotel Management Emphasis, all from the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa.
