Tod Burnett

Tod Burnett's position as President of Saddleback College is the culmination of years of work in education and government. While managing more than 1,350 employees and a $95 million annual budget, Tod Burnett leads an academic institution that serves more than 40,000 students every year in Mission Viejo, California. He joined the college in 2008, and oversees all operations, including athletics, community education, and student support programs, all in addition to the college's general education offerings.

As the head of an academic institution, Tod Burnett claims a lengthy personal history in higher education. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Administrative Studies from the University of California at Riverside, Burnett went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California, as well as a graduate certificate in Senior Executives in State and Local Government from Harvard University. He also earned a Doctor of Education from Pepperdine University, emphasizing Organizational Leadership.

Between 1996 and 2005, Tod Burnett served as an Appointee at the local, state, and federal levels for groups including the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, the Office of the Governor of California, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2006, he joined the California Community Colleges system as its Vice Chancellor. In overseeing the largest higher education system in the United States, Burnett helped implement system-wide emergency planning procedures and facilitated philanthropic gifts benefiting the 110-college system.

Today, Tod Burnett continues to utilize his education and professional experience to the benefit of Saddleback College. Outside of work, he spent years as an active supporter of the non-profit organization Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership, Inc, being recognized as its National Volunteer of the Year in 1999.