Dr. Chris Vitelli

Dr. Chris Vitelli is a senior higher education executive and consultant with extensive experience working with community colleges and diverse student populations, leading institution-wide transformation of teaching, learning, and professional development systems. His work is grounded in equity-minded pedagogy, technology-enhanced instruction, and the design of sustainable Centers for Teaching and Learning that support faculty excellence and meaningful institutional change. Currently, he is the Superintendent/President of Merced College and just entered his 10th year in this role.

Under his leadership at Merced College, Vitelli led the strategic transformation of core teaching and learning spaces to better support faculty innovation, student success, and equity-minded pedagogy. This work included reimagining the Merced College Library into a comprehensive Learning Resource Center featuring active learning environments, integrated tutoring and study spaces, faculty and student workshop venues, and co-curricular engagement opportunities alongside traditional library services.

Vitelli also championed the creation of a one-of-a-kind Innovation Center designed to advance teaching excellence through best-practice workshops, faculty learning communities, embedded instructional design support, advanced online and hybrid learning studios, and technology-enhanced teaching resources. Together, these initiatives reflect deep experience building and operationalizing modern Centers for Teaching and Learning that support diverse learners, evolving instructional modalities, and institutional change at scale.

Selected experience

• Superintendent/President, Merced College, now in his 10th year in the role
• Vice President of Student Services, Merced College
• Senior administration experience as Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO), Chief Instructional Officer (CIO), and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)
• Dean of Instruction and interim Vice President of Student Services, Columbia College, Sonora, California
• Director of Student Services for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida
• Director of Business, Industry, and Community Services, Merced College