Dr. Eric Leshinskie
Dr. Eric Leshinskie
President of Scottsdale Community College
Dr. Eric Leshinskie was named the fourth president of Scottsdale Community College (SCC) in July 2022. In his first two years as president, SCC has embraced a culture of care and expanded community partnerships, most notably with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, Scottsdale Unified School District, and the City of Scottsdale. The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce awarded SCC the Sterling Award in fall 2022 for the Big Business category, which acknowledges Scottsdale organizations that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and community stewardship. SCC’s School of Film+Theatre was named one of Variety’s annual top film schools in North America. In fall 2023, SCC launched an alumni engagement program, connecting SCC graduates across generations to create a network of Fighting Artichokes. Additionally, SCC is now recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution, according to the U.S. Department of Education. With more than 29% of the student population self-identifying as Hispanic, SCC’s student body continues to evolve and represent the diversity of Scottsdale and the Valley.
Dr. Leshinskie is very involved in the local community, serving as a board member for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Community Celebrating Diversity, and the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Blue Zones Project Scottsdale steering committee and the Vitalant Community Leadership Council. In 2024, he completed the Scottsdale Leadership program, immersing himself in the history and infrastructure of Scottsdale. Additionally, Dr. Leshinskie serves as a commissioner for the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Public Relations Advocacy & Advancement.
Prior to joining SCC, he served as the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost for the Maricopa County Community College District, providing system-level leadership to improve student outcomes. Prior to that, Dr. Leshinskie was the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Paradise Valley Community College and Glendale Community College. In 2019-2020, Dr. Leshinskie was one of 40 academic leaders across the nation to complete the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, a leadership program aimed at preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success, both in college and in the labor market. His career in public education and his passion for serving students began in Arlington, Virginia, where he was a middle school English teacher from 1994-1998.
Dr. Leshinskie earned his Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Innovation in May 2017 from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers’ College at Arizona State University. He also received his Master of Education in Learning and Instructional Technology from ASU and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Richmond, in Richmond, VA, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in English.