Dr. Sunita (Sunny) Cooke began her tenure as Superintendent/President of MiraCosta Community College District in 2015 and has been a recognized California community college CEO for 17 years. Cooke came to MiraCosta from Grossmont College, located in east San Diego County, where she served as President for nearly eight years. She has been an educator for over 28 years since receiving a Ph.D. in biology from Georgetown University.
After completing her post-doctoral research training at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, she 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 for the Lone-Star District where she led credit, non-credit, and corporate training efforts district-wide.
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 in this arena. The work has resulted in an ongoing annual investment of approximately $260 million to enhance California community college career education and that much more invested annually in k-12 career education in California. She continues to chair the San Diego Regional Workforce collaborative efforts across 10 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 board and is chair-elect of the American Association of Community Colleges and is on the board of CA Community College Baccalaureate Association.
