Media Contact: Juliet V. Casey, jcasey@losmedanos.edu, (925) 473-7322
Pittsburg, Calif. –Los Medanos College is pleased to announce new Director of College Advancement Tara Sanders to lead Los Medanos College Foundation, effective May 1, 2025.
“With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Tara has built a career focused on external partnership development and resource generation,” Los Medanos College President Pamela Ralston said. “She is deeply committed to advancing educational equity through sustainable, community-driven partnerships and volunteer work.”
Sanders succeeds Leetha Robertson, who fostered foundation operations for the past two years as its interim manager. Robertson will be returning to her previous position as senior administrative assistant to LMC Vice President of Instruction A’kilah Smith.
Sanders currently serves as the Workforce Development manager for the Contra Costa Community College District in Martinez, where she leads regional employer and K-12 engagement efforts. She also oversees the $1.6 million federal Perkins Grant, which funds career and technical education programs across the district.
Sanders previously worked at LMC from 2011 to 2018, during which time she served as Transfer Center coordinator and then as community partnership liaison. In that role, she led employer engagement efforts and generated more than $300,000 in scholarships, equipment donations, and program support.
Sanders said returning to LMC to lead the foundation “feels like the culminating experience of my career,” adding, “I’m excited to work with our incredible existing donors and create new important partnerships so that we can continue to invest in a thriving East Contra Costa County and bolster student success together.”
Sanders earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from the University of Redlands and a master’s degree in social sciences from California State University, Chico.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.