Office of the President

About Dr. James Limbaugh

Dr. James Limbaugh began his tenure as the ninth president of West Los Angeles College on October 1, 2016 and brings to the position the unique viewpoint of having served in executive leadership positions at both two-year and four-year institutions.

At West Los Angeles College, Dr. Limbaugh holds as a priority the establishment of academic programs and services that reflect the needs of the College’s service region and that address social justice issues. For example, West has created the first community college degree in Climate Change Studies in the United States, and the College is the host institution for the California Center for Climate Change Education—the only such center of its kind that focuses on climate change education geared to community college students. The College also has two baccalaureate programs: Dental Hygiene (one of the most successful programs of its kind in the state) and Avionics (the only bachelor’s degree in this subject in the United States). Additionally, in the only professional-grade sound stage on a college campus, the College provides training for “below the line” professionals in the entertainment industry.

Concurrently with the expansion of academic programs, during Dr. Limbaugh’s tenure several student support services have been added, included Black Scholars United (to support black student success), the Dream Center (services for undocumented students), and NextUP! (programs for foster youth attending college). In 2023, the College was awarded the distinction of being named an Aspen Top 150 institution, citing West as one of the top 150 community colleges (out of approximately 1,600 institutions) in recognition of its performance in supporting students from marginalized groups through their educational programs and to graduation. Armed with an understanding that student success can be hobbled by external forces that block a student’s abilities to be academically successful, Dr. Limbaugh and his wife, Trish, established the West Los Angeles College Food Pantry and the West Wardrobe, initiatives that continue through the generous support of multiple community donors

Prior to assuming the presidency of West Los Angeles College, Dr. Limbaugh served as the interim president of Oxnard College and as Chancellor of Montana State University-Northern (MSUN)—a master’s-level university in north-central Montana. His focus on student success led to his being named by the Montana Student Association (representing all Montana institutions) as the 2013 “Student Advocate of the Year.” Before accepting the chancellorship at MSUN, an unexpected turn of events at Angelo State University (TX) led to Dr. Limbaugh holding three vice presidencies simultaneously: his original assignment as Vice President for Strategy, Planning, and Policy; and his interim role for eighteen months as the Vice President of Student Services and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. .

Within the community, Dr. Limbaugh is a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and serves on the Board of Directors of the Culver City Educational Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, Dr. Limbaugh is a 2024 Aspen Presidential Scholar, a recognition given to only 25 community college presidents in the country.

Dr. Limbaugh holds a Ph. D. in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Texas A & M University. Additionally, he

holds undergraduate degrees in English and Business (from Texas A&M) and History (from Frostburg State University [MD]). He and his wife, Trish, have three children and six grandchildren.