Dr. Frank Gornick is the Chancellor Emeritus for West Hills Community College District, where he previously served as Chancellor for 16 years. In this role, Gornick helped to transition the district into a multi-college system. He also guided the planning and construction of the West Hills College Lemoore campus, which opened in 2002. Prior to being appointed Chancellor, Gornick served as the district’s superintendent and president.
Under Gornick’s leadership, West Hills CCD expanded student success programs through the Awards for Innovation and lead a consortium of 13 central valley schools to bring new technology to rural colleges. Gornick led a push for districtwide adoption of new technologies through strategic partnerships with Cisco Systems, Pacific Bell, federal agencies, and local workforce investment boards to deliver low cost technology access. This work has led to West Hills offering one of the most advanced online education programs in the state.
During Gornick’s tenure, West Hills CCD was recognized as a model of civic engagement by Campus Compact, and in 2004 received the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Diversity Award for Excellence.
Gornick is a product of the community colleges and has worked for the past 42 years in service to California’s community colleges. He has served as the Dean of Student Services for Bakersfield College, where he helped to supervise a comprehensive student development program and chaired committees focused on student success. He brings years of operations experience in higher education and has worked closely with several organizations that support fundraising and student success, including the West Hills Community College Foundation, West Side Educational Foundation, and the Dioceses of Fresno Education Board. Dr. Gornick has also served on the the board of Insure America Project, where he focused on DACA legislation and educational outreach to DACA students about the process and their rights.
Gornick received his associate’s degree in general education Coalinga College before receiving his bachelor’s degree in physical education, and his master’s degree in counseling from California State University, Sacramento. He received his doctorate in higher education and higher education administration from Saint Louis University.