Chancellor's Office

The Chancellor's Office aims to ensure the highest quality learning experiences for current and future students. This happens through creative leadership, committed and valued employees, effective services, sufficient funding, and an environment of respect, mutual trust and open communication. Responsiveness to the needs of our external and internal stakeholders will guide our actions.

Helen Benjamin is in her tenth year as Chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District (District). She began her career at the District in 1990 when she joined Los Medanos College as Dean of Language Arts and Humanistic Studies and Related Occupations, and has held progressively higher level positions including District Vice Chancellor, Educational Programs and Services, interim President of Los Medanos College and President of Contra Costa College.

Dr. Benjamin has a B.S. degree in English and Spanish from Bishop College in Texas where she graduated magna cum laude and earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. She has never lost sight of her roots as a teacher, having taught high school English in the Dallas Independent School District and looks for opportunities to turn challenges into teachable moments.

Dr. Benjamin is passionate about maintaining an active role in a wide variety of professional and community organizations. At the local level, she is a board member of the Kennedy-King Scholarship Memorial College Scholarship Fund, a county-wide effort to provide District students financial support to continue their education goals at a four-year or graduate institution. At the state level, Dr. Benjamin serves as the immediate Past Chair of the California Community College League Board of Directors. At the national level, she is a member of the Presidents’ Round Table, an affiliate organization of the National Council on Black American Affairs, and is a member of President Obama’s Commission on the Future. In addition, Dr. Benjamin serves on the board of Excelsior College, located in Albany, New York.

Headquartered in Martinez, California, the District was the first county-wide college district in the state and began serving students in 1949. The District consists of Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, San Ramon Campus, and the Brentwood Center. With a county population of over one million people, the District serves an annual enrollment greater than 52,000 students.