MiraCosta College Superintendent/President Sunita V. Cooke has been elected president of the board of directors for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). She will be the first Indian-born person (Desi) to lead the board in its 104-year history. AACC is the primary advocacy organization for more than 1,000 associate degree-granting institutions nationwide.

Cooke will assume the role on July 1. AACC, based in Washington, D.C., advocates for community colleges with federal legislators and agencies and promotes community colleges through leadership development, policy initiatives, innovative programs, research, and outreach to business, industry, and the national news media. 

“Dr. Cooke brings an incredible depth and breadth of knowledge and experience about the issues facing today’s community colleges,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “As AACC looks to continuously advance the sector and provide the needed resources for the next generation of community college students, Sunny’s strategic and forward-thinking leadership will serve the AACC board and the nation’s community colleges well.”

Cooke said AACC has played an important role throughout her professional career. She regularly attends AACC’s Workforce Development Institute and national AACC conferences. She recalled that the organization’s new CEO training program was invaluable to her nearly eighteen years ago when she was first selected as a college president in San Diego County. 

“Through my leadership of the AACC board, I want to give back to the organization that has given so much to me,” Cooke said. “I want to ensure that it remains a vibrant and dynamic organization for the next generations of community college leaders and for our member organizations.”

Cooke, an educator for over 28 years, has served as superintendent/president of MiraCosta College since 2015. She came to MiraCosta from Grossmont College (also in San Diego County), where she served as president for nearly eight years.

Cooke earned her Ph.D. in biology from Georgetown University and then became a founding faculty member at Lone-Star Montgomery College, where she taught biology and biotechnology. She served as director of their Biotechnology Institute and Dean of Natural Sciences, Health and Wellness. She then became the Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development in the Lone-Star District, leading district-wide credit, non-credit, and corporate training efforts.

Cooke has worked at local and state levels in economic and workforce development in Texas and California. In 2015, she chaired the statewide Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy, ensuring that California and the community college system remain vital leaders. The work has resulted in an ongoing annual investment of approximately $260 million to enhance California community college career education and much more invested annually in K-12 career education in California. She continues to chair the San Diego Regional Workforce collaborative efforts across ten community colleges.

Cooke is an active member of the greater San Diego community, state, and national boards, including Biocom and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, and co-chairs its Inclusive Economic Development Steering Committee. She serves on the executive committee of the American Association of Community Colleges and is on the board of the California Community College Baccalaureate Association.

This significant achievement for Superintendent/President Sunita V. Cooke aligns with MiraCosta College's celebration of 90 years of service to the community. As the College marks this historic milestone, Cooke’s election to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) presidency underscores MiraCosta’s ongoing commitment to leadership, advocacy, and innovation in higher education. Her new role at the AACC highlights the College’s influence on the regional, state, and national level and its dedication to shaping the future of community colleges across the country. This honor not only celebrates Cooke’s contributions but also reflects the collective efforts and enduring legacy of MiraCosta College in advancing educational excellence and community development.