Where we foster excellence in education that challenges students of every background to develop their intellect, character, and abilities; to assist students in achieving their educational and career goals; and to be responsive to the greater community.
Brady Hammond is an experienced higher-education leader dedicated to advancing student success, academic excellence, and equitable access. He currently serves as Dean of English & Humanities and Acting Dean of Computing & Applied Technology at Quinsigamond Community College, where he oversees diverse academic programs and supports more than 200 faculty and professional staff. Dr. Hammond is known for fostering collaborative, student-centered cultures, strengthening instructional quality, and promoting innovative practices that improve completion and student outcomes. His leadership emphasizes transparency, shared governance, and meaningful professional development that supports faculty and staff success.
Prior to Quinsigamond, Dr. Hammond served as Associate Vice President at Laramie County Community College and as Chair of Languages & Humanities and Accreditation Liaison Officer at Northern Marianas College. Across his roles, he has strengthened faculty onboarding and evaluation systems, expanded support for multilingual and multicultural learners, and secured statewide grants to strengthen workforce pathways, student readiness, and equitable access to education. His experience includes building dual-credit partnerships, developing industry-aligned programming, and supporting student leadership both by serving as a mentor and by advising student clubs, including Phi Theta Kappa at two separate institutions. Dr. Hammond’s work is grounded in inclusive leadership, culturally responsive engagement, and a deep respect for the communities he serves.
Dr. Hammond holds a doctorate from Victoria University of Wellington and advanced degrees from Boston University and York University. He is committed to the community-college mission, and he is excited to meet the Imperial Valley College team to learn more about the college's continued growth, innovation, regional impact, and student-centered culture.
Jules Johnson is a higher education leader who brings over two decades of comprehensive experience from various roles. Jules has served as a Senior Vice Provost, Dean, Associate Dean, and Department Chair, and has held both tenure-line and adjunct faculty positions. Their experience spans the entire spectrum of higher education, including community colleges, private institutions, and research-intensive universities, providing them with a uniquely broad perspective on student success, instructional innovation, and institutional growth.
Jules's commitment to education is deeply personal. As someone who dropped out of high school, Jules found their life-changing professional pathway as a student at Long Beach City College. This experience is the foundation of their career, driving their passion for supporting students and communities—a passion that led them to IVC because of its successful and substantive work in this very area.
When Jules is not leading educational initiatives, you can find them playing with their energetic dog, Dobby, creating small multi-media art pieces, or perhaps enjoying some vegetarian cooking.
Jennifer Saunders has professional experience in non-profit, government, and higher education sectors. Jennifer holds a Ph.D. in Educational Studies, with emphases in program development and evaluation; adult development; and leadership from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her research focus was on prior learning assessment as a degree or certificate completion strategy for working adults 50+ to support employability until retirement age. Her teaching experience is in child development, behavior guidance and classroom management, adult development, Child Life certification, grant writing, and non-profit management. She has held a number of positions as an administrator at a community college including Division Chair, Associate Dean, Dean, and both Assistant and Associate VP. She has extensive experience with accreditation, fundraising, student support services, and facility management. Jennifer considers her areas of particular expertise to be: Developing and maintaining relevant academic and workforce programs; engaging both internal and external partners; supporting the skill development of others; securing resources necessary for institutional growth and student success; and celebrating the success of colleagues, students, and community. She has a long-standing and proven commitment to equity of opportunity for all with a comprehensive, inclusive approach to diversity and serving underrepresented or marginalized groups.
By way of a personal introduction, Jen grew up in rural Maryland, surrounded by dairy farms. From a young age, she baled hay, mended fences (literally), milked goats, and operated a tractor. She spent parts of each summer in inter-city Baltimore with grandparents and cousins. This is where both her parents were born and raised. While enjoying aspects of both rural and urban settings, her preference has landed in the realm of a more suburban yet growing community. Educational pursuits brought her from Maryland to Utah. Finding it to be a good fit personally, she stayed after graduation and launched a career. Historically hobbies have included rock climbing, riding her motorcycle, and an occasional car race. Currently, hobbies still include attending concerts of nearly any genre of music, hiking, listening to books, and attending student events. With immediate family in eight different states, opportunities to travel to see them are highly valued and a kind of hobby, too.
Dr. Niraj Wagh (Near-ridge Wahg | He/Him/His) currently serves as the Dean of STEM and Business at Seattle Central College. As the child of immigrant parents, he brings a deep appreciation for the transformative power of education and the importance of creating pathways to opportunity for all students. In his role, Dr. Wagh is committed to cultivating inclusive and supportive learning environments where every student can thrive. He actively works to ensure that faculty and staff have the resources and guidance necessary to promote academic success. His leadership is grounded in equity-minded practices and a dedication to culturally relevant pedagogy that empowers both educators and learners.
Previously, Dr. Wagh served as a tenured mathematics professor and developmental mathematics department chair at Valencia College, where he also held the role of faculty assembly president. He led student success initiatives focused on inclusion and belonging, including developing an institution-wide curriculum brief supporting historically excluded students, founding a LGBTQ+ student organization, and leading an initiative to create gender inclusive restrooms on campus to foster inclusion for queer, trans, and non-binary students. A strong advocate for active learning, he also contributed to math education grants focused on learning-centered teaching strategies.
Dr. Wagh holds a doctorate degree in higher education administration from the University of Florida and wrote his dissertation on Queer Students’ of Color Sense of Inclusion in Community Colleges. He received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Bellwether College Consortium in 2023, and his findings have been published in the Community College Journal of Research and Practice. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Michigan State University.