Dr. Lennor M. Johnson Named the First Black President of MiraCosta College

On June 25, 2026, the MiraCosta Community College District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the contract of Dr. Lennor M. Johnson as the institution’s next Superintendent/President. Following a comprehensive national search, Dr. Johnson will succeed Dr. Sunny Cooke and officially step into his new role on August 3. 

Dr. Johnson brings more than 28 years of educational leadership, a deep commitment to student equity, and a clear track record of removing barriers to academic and career success. 

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, it is with great excitement that we welcome Dr. Johnson to MiraCosta College," said Frank Merchat, President of the Board of Trustees. "The Board is confident that his collaborative approach, passion for equity, and dedication to community partnerships make him the ideal leader to build upon the solid foundation Dr. Cooke has established.

"Dr. Johnson joins MiraCosta College from Imperial Valley Community College District, where he served as Superintendent/President. Under his leadership, the district earned the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, a national recognition highlighting his ability to build environments where student success thrives. 

His broad career spans multiple facets of higher education, including roles as Vice President of Student Services, Dean, Campus Director, Graduate Curriculum Chair, and Professor. Throughout his career, Dr. Johnson has championed the needs of diverse student populations, including first-generation students, foster youth, veterans, and system-impacted individuals. He possesses conversational and professional proficiency in Spanish, enabling him to engage meaningfully with students, families, employees, and community members throughout the region. This ability will further support MiraCosta College's mission as a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). His strategic focus on enrollment growth, fiscal health, and curriculum alignment has consistently earned national recognition for institutional excellence and student retention. 

 The pairing of Dr. Johnson and MiraCosta College brings together a leader recognized for institutional excellence with a college that holds a distinguished national reputation. Additionally, Dr. Johnson's appointment marks a historic milestone for the district, as he becomes the first African American Superintendent/President in MiraCosta College’s 92-year history. MiraCosta College is widely recognized as an Achieving the Dream Leader College for its efforts to close equity gaps. It has also consistently been named to the Aspen Prize Top 150 Community Colleges and is recognized regionally and nationally for its pioneering bachelor’s degree programs in biomanufacturing. 

 Outside of his academic roles, Dr. Johnson is a proud veteran who served honorably for four years in the United States Marine Corps. He has dedicated much of his personal time to advocating for educational reform and economic development in minoritized communities, earning the Stone of Hope Award for his efforts. He is also a founding board member for several youth-focused non-profits and actively mentors individuals to help them realize their full potential. 

 Dr. Johnson holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University, a Master's degree in Business Administration from Governors State University, and a Doctorate in Education from Argosy University. With his contract officially approved, the college community looks forward to beginning this new leadership chapter in August. 

 Dr. Johnson and his wife, Michelle, look forward to becoming part of the MiraCosta College community and engaging with students, employees, and community partners throughout the district.

Watch Attorney Ben Crump release of independent autopsy of Nolan Xavier Wells 08/22/2026

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump will hold a press conference tomorrow 08/22/26 to announce the findings of an independent autopsy connected to the death of Nolan Wells.

The press conference is set at 8 a.m. Central Time (9 a.m. Eastern) Wednesday. Crump will be joined by Derrick Johnson, presidents of and chief executive officer of the NAACP, and the Wells’ family at the news conference. The press conference will take place at the 117th NAACP convention in Chicago.

Watch live below:

MARCH ON WASHINGTON 2026: DEFEND THE VOTE

MARCH ON WASHINGTON 2026: DEFEND THE VOTE

On Friday, August 28, 2026, we gather on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington: Defend the Vote. Hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton, the National Action Network, and the Drum Major Institute on the 63rd anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, we march because the work is not finished.

We march to defend the vote, because voting rights are under attack and the protections generations fought, bled, and died for are being weakened.

We march to defend civil rights, because attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion are attempts to roll back access, opportunity, and representation.

We march for economic justice, because too many families are still fighting for fair wages, affordable housing, equal opportunity, and a fair chance to build wealth.

This is not only about one election. This is about whether our democracy will protect all of us. This is about whether the promises of 1963 will finally be made real. This is about standing together, across generations, to say we will not go backward.

On August 28, we return to Washington not to remember history, but to make history. We march for the vote. We march for justice. We march for the future.

Learn more and register to march here March on Washington 2026 | Defend the Vote

ATTACK ON VOTING RIGHTS FORUM SCHEDULED FOR PLAINFIELD, NJ

“The Attack On Voting Rights And The War On Black People,” will be the subject of a panel discussion that will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, 12:00 noon at the Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Avenue in Plainfield, New Jersey.

The event is sponsored by the People’s Organization For Progress (POP) a grassroots group that works for racial, social, economic justice and peace.

“The purpose of this forum is to discuss the impact of Presidential policy, U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and congressional action on voting rights. It is also to discuss the attack on Black people not only politically but also economically, socially, and culturally,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

“We want to give people an opportunity to have a dialogue not only on the negative impact of the racist and fascist domestic and foreign policies of the Trump administration on Black people but more importantly on strategies for fighting back,” Hamm said.

“The Trump administration is perhaps the most openly racist and certainly the most corrupt in my lifetime. His racist and fascist rhetoric and vitriolic attacks exceed that of his contemporaries,” he said.

“The reactionary policies of the White House, ultra conservative decisions of the Supreme Court, and right wing legislation of Congress and state legislatures makes it feel like there is a war on Black people in this country,” he said.

Invited speakers at the program will include Adrian Mapp, Mayor of Plainfield, Bill Davis, activist and author, Assatta Mann-Colon, New Jersey institute for Social Justice, and Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress.

The forum in Plainfield is the second of a series on this topic. The first one was held in Montclair. Others are scheduled for Newark, Maplewood, Hackensack, and East Orange. The series is expected to continue throughout this year at different cities and towns around the state.

“We decided to have this forum series after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case several months ago which gutted and effectively killed the 1965 Voting Rights Act,” Hamm said.

“This may be one of worst Supreme Court decisions on voting rights since the 15th Amendment, which gave black men the right to vote, was signed into law by President Grant after the Civil War in 1870,” Hamm said.

Hamm said the court’s decision enables racist state legislatures to redraw their congressional districts and eliminate those which have large black populations. This could result in the loss of as many as 19 congressional seats now held by African Americans.

Besides political retrenchment Hamm cited other areas where Black people are under attack.

“Black people continue to experience the highest rates of racist violence. Black Americans experience the highest rate of police brutality and fatal shootings by police. Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than whites.

“Black student enrollment at colleges and universities continues to decline due to the Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action in higher education.

“Since the beginning of Trump’s second term Black unemployment has doubled with more than 600,000 Black people losing their jobs, including 350,000 Black women, due to a sagging economy, federal budget cuts, and the ending of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs,” he said.

Hamm said the racial wealth gap continues to widen between blacks and whites. White families now have six times the wealth of black families. The median net worth of white families is about $285,000 compared to $44,900 for Black families.

In terms of health outcomes life expectancy of Black Americans is shorter than that of whites. The rate of black infant mortality is double the rate for whites. Black maternal mortality is more than three times the rate for whites.

For more information please call People’s Organization for Progress at 973 801-0001.

 

WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE: The family of Nolan Wells and attorneys Ben Crump held a news conference after meeting with the Jackson County District Attorney.

The family of Nolan Wells and attorneys Ben Crump held a news conference after meeting with the Jackson County District Attorney on July 15, 2026. Watch the entire news conference below