Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, Superintendent/President of MiraCosta Community College District since 2015 and a respected leader in higher education for nearly four decades, has announced her plans to retire in the summer of 2026.
In a message to the MiraCosta College community, Dr. Cooke shared, “After much reflection, I have decided to retire in the summer of 2026. This has not been an easy decision, as my years at MiraCosta College have been among the most rewarding of my life. It has been an honor to serve alongside extraordinary colleagues, united in our commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening our community through education.”
Dr. Cooke began her career as a biology and biotechnology faculty member after earning her Ph.D. in Biology from Georgetown University. Over more than 30 years in education, she has served as department chair, dean, associate vice chancellor, and president before joining MiraCosta College.
Under her leadership, MiraCosta has achieved significant milestones:
- Launching innovative programs, including California’s first biomanufacturing bachelor’s degree at a community college.
- Passing a transformative $455 million facilities bond (Measure MM), modernizing classrooms and infrastructure.
- Under her leadership, the college has brought in nearly $46 million in state and federal grants to support college programs and students in the past five years.
- Expanding student supports and achieving national recognition as an Achieving the Dream Leader College and Aspen Prize for Excellence semi-finalist.
Building enduring systems to close equity gaps and ensure all students have the right to succeed, not just the right to try.
- Recruited, hired, and developed hundreds of faculty, staff, and administrators to reflect future students and the community.
Dr. Cooke has also been a visible leader at the state and national levels. In 2015, she chaired California’s Task Force on Workforce and a Strong Economy, leading to an ongoing $260 million annual investment in career education by the CA State Legislature. She has served as Chair of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Board of Directors, an officer of the California Community Colleges CEO Board, and a leader in regional workforce development. She has also served on the executive committee of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, and on the boards of Biocom, and local chambers of commerce.
Her leadership has been widely recognized. She has been named to the San Diego Top 500 Influential Leaders list multiple times, honored with the Pacific Region CEO Award from the American Association of Community College Trustees, and earned the North County Steward Award from the San Diego North Economic Development Council. She has also been recognized in the San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business and Top 50 Women of Influence.
Reflecting on her tenure, Dr. Cooke said, “At MiraCosta, we have worked to ensure that every student has the right to succeed, not just the right to try. Together, we’ve built a culture of care that centers students’ lived experiences, goals, and aspirations. We have worked to create opportunities for individuals while supporting regional businesses and industry. I will always carry deep gratitude for the courage, creativity, and dedication of this extraordinary community.”
The MiraCosta College Board of Trustees will launch a national search in 2025–26 to identify the next superintendent/president. Dr. Cooke has committed to supporting the District and the Board throughout the transition.
President of the Board of Trustees, Rick Cassar, comments, “Dr. Cooke has transformed MiraCosta College into a nationally recognized leader in innovation and student success. Her vision has not only strengthened the college today but has also positioned MiraCosta to remain at the forefront of higher education well into the future. She and her team have ensured that they are good stewards of our community’s taxpayer dollars through our operations and the responsible spending of our voter-approved 2016 bond measure, Measure MM, which is now bringing its construction projects to completion over the next couple of years. Her legacy of forward-thinking leadership will continue to shape our students, our community, and the entire region for generations to come.”
Dr. Janice Kurth, President of the MiraCosta College Foundation, noted, “Dr. Cooke’s visionary leadership has touched every part of MiraCosta College and the communities we serve. This legacy fund will provide a lasting way for donors and partners to celebrate her impact and ensure that her commitment to student success endures for generations to come.”
Mark Cafferty, CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) comments “I am not sure there is a person anywhere in our community who has had more influence on the direction of our region’s workforce and economic development efforts over the last 18 years than Dr. Sunny Cooke. Her vision, partnership, leadership, and compassion have all helped change and improve systems while changing and improving lives. Whether expanding access to education for vulnerable populations, representing our region in state and national workforce forums, or engaging directly with industry to make college curriculum more current and relevant, Sunny has seemingly been everywhere. I know that I speak for our entire team and board at San Diego Regional EDC when I say that I consider myself so lucky to have shared these decades with her.”
