Leadership Dinner: Leo Chavez

Leadership Dinners bring proven leaders from various arenas together with a small group of graduate students for dinner and informal discussion about what it means to be a leader and to lead organizations, movements, and people. 

Leo Chavez, president emeritus, Sierra College

Leo Chavez went to Sierra College from San Jose/Evergreen Community College where he served as president and was the executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Community Foundation of Silicon Valley in San Jose. Chavez was also the Chancellor of Foothill-De Anza community college district in Los Altos Hills, and the president of the West Valley College in Saratoga.

Dr. Leo Chavez received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor before joining the faculty at San Jose City College in 1976. He served there as the vice president and president of the Academic Senate, assistant dean of social sciences and humanities, and dean of instruction.

In 2011-12, after retiring from Sierra College, Dr. Chavez accepted an opportunity to serve as the Director (President) of Dubai Men’s College in Dubai, The United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s Men’s college is a baccalaureate granting college part of the larger system known as the Higher Colleges of Technology or HCT. HCT is a system of 7 men’s and women’s colleges located throughout the UAE and are best compared to the California State University system.

After Dubai, Dr. Chavez applied for the position of Director in the Chavez household and, while not gaining the position, has been allowed by Mrs. Chavez to serve as Associate Director of the household, a purely ceremonial post. The couple has four grown children.

Please Note:

Leadership Dinners have limited seating. If you are accepted you must confirm your place by submitting a Student Participation Fee Agreement, which authorizes VPGE to charge $50 to your Stanford bill – only if you do not fully participate in the event.