Posted: March 5, 2020Written by: Ritchie Bermudez

SAN LUIS OBISPO – On Mar. 4, Cuesta College’s Board of Trustees approved Dr. Jason Curtis as the Cuesta College Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Academic Affairs.

After serving in the interim role since July 2019, Dr. Curtis will continue to oversee the Department of Academic Affairs and provide leadership for all instructional programs, including the development of curriculum and class schedules as well as faculty hiring and training. Dr. Curtis also serves as the Accreditation Liaison Officer for Cuesta College.

“I was pleased to recommend Dr. Jason Curtis to the Board of Trustees as Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Academic Affairs,” said Cuesta College Superintendent / President Dr. Jill Stearns. “The exhaustive national search brought forth a large pool of well-qualified candidates and Dr. Curtis stood out among these exceptional applicants. Dr. Curtis has demonstrated strong leadership for our faculty in providing high-quality education for our students and community, and I am thrilled to have him as an integral member of our executive team.”

Dr. Jason Curtis first came to Cuesta College as a student looking to get his academic career back on track. Upon completing an Associate’s Degree of Science in General Studies, he transferred to Cal Poly and finished his BS in Biological Sciences one year later. Dr. Curtis next went to Purdue University and earned his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, studying the population genetics of parasites and their hosts. He spent 14 years at Purdue University North Central, teaching and continuing his research in parasitology. He held many teaching leadership positions, including five years as Chair of the Faculty Senate, Chair for the Biology and Chemistry Department, and the faculty representative on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Dr. Curtis returned to Cuesta College in 2014 to serve as the Dean of Sciences and Mathematics. In this role, he pursued external funding in support of Cuesta’s programs while managing the academic areas covering biology, physical sciences, mathematics, nursing/allied health, and kinesiology/athletics.

“As a former student of Cuesta, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for this college and the mission of the California Community Colleges,” said Dr. Curtis. “I feel very fortunate to be working in support of Cuesta’s outstanding faculty so that together, we can ensure the best learning experience for our students. My goal is to provide the type of leadership that allows our best ideas to emerge and flourish as Cuesta College evolves in response to the changing needs of our community and the state.”