Schools

MSJC Superintendent/President Dr. Roger W. Schultz Announces Retirement

His departure will mark the end of a distinguished 38-year career in higher education, including 25 years of service to MSJC.

Dr. Roger W. Schultz at his desk at Mt. San Jacinto College. Throughout his 18 years as Superintendent/President, Dr. Schultz has guided the college through remarkable growth, innovation, and student-centered transformation.
Dr. Roger W. Schultz at his desk at Mt. San Jacinto College. Throughout his 18 years as Superintendent/President, Dr. Schultz has guided the college through remarkable growth, innovation, and student-centered transformation. (MSJC)

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — After nearly two decades of leadership, Mt. San Jacinto College Superintendent/President Dr. Roger W. Schultz is retiring, it was announced Monday.

Schultz will step down next summer, according to the college.

His retirement will mark the end of a distinguished 38-year career in higher education, including 25 years of service to MSJC and 18 years at the helm of the college district as superintendent/president.

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Since his appointment in 2008, Schultz has guided MSJC through an era of growth and transformation. Under his leadership, the college expanded from two campuses to three, opening new facilities in San Jacinto, Menifee, and Temecula, and adding state-of-the-art academic and athletic spaces that serve students across the region.

He has also led historic enrollment gains, record-breaking graduation numbers, and the passage of a $295 million local bond that has helped fuel growth and innovation at the campus.

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Additionally, he navigated the college through the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.

During his tenure, MSJC has earned numerous state and national recognitions, including reaffirmation of the college's accreditation through 2032, honors from Washington Monthly as one of the nation’s top two-year Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and recent dual designations from the Carnegie Foundation.

Most recently, MSJC was voted the Best Community College and Best Nursing School in the Inland
Empire for three consecutive years by local readers of The Press-Enterprise.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Mt. San Jacinto College and this incredible community," Schultz said in a released statement. "Together with our outstanding faculty, staff, and students, we’ve built an institution that truly transforms lives. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and confident that MSJC is poised to reach even greater heights in the years ahead."

Beyond MSJC, Schultz has been visible across California’s higher education landscape. He served as president of the Chief Executive Officers Board of the Community College League of California and as chair of the League’s Board of Directors. Locally, he contributed to numerous civic and educational organizations, including charter school boards, chambers of commerce, and the Temecula Valley Hospital Board.

"Dr. Schultz’s vision and steady leadership have positioned MSJC for a bright and sustainable future," said MSJC Board of Trustees President Tom Ashley. "His legacy will continue to shape our students, campuses, and communities for generations."

According to a college announcement, the MSJC Board of Trustees will begin a national search for the college’s next Superintendent/President to ensure a smooth leadership transition before Schultz’s retirement.

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