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College Leadership
College of the Canyons has had four superintendent-presidents since its creation in
1968, plus one interim superintendent-president who served in that capacity on two
separate occasions. The position of superintendent-president is that of superintendent
(now chancellor) of the Santa Clarita Community College District and president of
College of the Canyons.
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Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook
- Chancellor, 2008 to present
- Superintendent-President, 1988-2008
Dr. Van Hook assumed her role as superintendent-president on July 1, 1988. The college's
first chancellor and longest-serving superintendent-president, she has reshaped the
Valencia campus and created an entirely new one in Canyon Country. She has transformed
the college's original vision into a model educational institution that is uniquely
prepared for the challenges of the future.
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Dr. Ramon F. LaGrandeur
- Superintendent-President, 1983-1988
Dr. LaGrandeur, former president of Spokane Community College, stepped into his role
at College of the Canyons on May 1, 1983, facing a budget deficit of nearly $500,000.
He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1988. He died in 1995 at age 68,
having spent more than 30 years in education.
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Mr. Gary Mouck
- Interim Superintendent-President, 1982-1983
Mr. Mouck served as interim superintendent-president on two occasions – during the
void created by the resignation of Dr. Leland Newcomer in 1982, and following the
retirement of the first superintendent-president, Dr. Robert Rockwell, in 1978. He
set a retirement date of his own for Dec. 15, 1982, but he dutifully agreed to stay
on until a replacement for Dr. Newcomer could be found. He retired in 1983 and died
in Nevada in early 2019.
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Dr. Leland B. Newcomer
- Superintendent-President, 1979-1982
Dr. Newcomer, former president of La Verne College and superintendent of Grossmont
Union High School District, assumed his role as the college's top administrator on
July 1, 1979. He arrived during a particularly difficult period for all of California's
publicly funded institutions. Just a year earlier, voters approved Proposition 13,
which led to significant cutbacks in education. He resigned in June 1982. He died
in 2007 at the age of 86.
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Mr. Gary Mouck
- Interim Superintendent-President, 1978-1979
Mr. Mouck worked with Dr. Robert Rockwell at Santa Barbara City College, and he followed
his mentor to the Santa Clarita Valley. His primary responsibility was serving as
vice president and assistant superintendent of instruction, handling day-to-day operations.
He assumed the top post on an interim basis when Dr. Rockwell retired in 1978, and
again in 1982 when Dr. Leland Newcomer resigned. He retired in 1983 and died in Nevada
in early 2019.
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