Cabinet
Dr. Bob Curry
Associate Superintendent/Vice President, Academic Affairs
Education: B.A., San Francisco State University, M.A. California State University, Chico, Ph.D. University of Connecticut.
Dr. Curry began his service as associate superintendent/vice president of academic affairs in 2018, bringing 13 years of higher education experience. Dr. Curry has served as an academic dean, overseeing the English department and the Academic Resource Center, as well as the library and Distance Education resources at Hancock College. He also served as dean for the school of arts and sciences at State University of New York (SUNY) Alfred State College. Curry earned a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature and creative writing from San Francisco State University. He went on to receive a master’s degree in English from California State University, Chico, and a Ph.D. in English from University of Connecticut.
DR. GENEVIEVE SIWABESSY
Associate Superintendent/Vice President, Student Services
Education: B.A., University of California, Davis; M.A., California State University, Sacramento; Ed.D. University of California, Davis.
Dr. Siwabessy joined as the associate superintendent/vice president of student services in 2022. She brings 19 years of practice in higher education student affairs, which includes 13 years of experience in California community colleges. Dr. Siwabessy has served in classified, faculty, and management positions with her most recent roles as a dean over student service areas at Folsom Lake College, Woodland Community College, and Cuesta College. She sees her role at Hancock College as integral to cultivating institutional conditions for transformative learning and development to occur.
Dr. Paul M. Murphy
Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness
Education: B.A., M.A., California State University; Ph.D., University of California
Dr. Murphy began his service as vice president of institutional effectiveness in 2015, bringing 30 years of experience in higher education serving in various faculty and administrative roles in the UC, CSU, and Community College systems in California. Dr. Murphy’s role as vice president of institutional effectiveness is to support continuous and integrated systems for planning, implementing, assessing, analyzing, and improving college programs and services in fulfillment of the college’s stated mission using data driven decision-making. Prior to his role as the vice president, Dr. Murphy served as dean of instruction, director of a $4.3 million Department of Education STEM grant, director of institutional research, and statistics lecturer; he currently teaches economics part time.
DENNIS CURRAN
Associate Superintendent/Vice President, Finance and Administration
Education: B.A., St. Mary’s College of California; MBA Naval Postgraduate School; MA St. Mary’s University of San Antonio
Mr. Curran joined Allan Hancock College in June of 2023 as the associate superintendent/vice president of finance and administration. He arrived with seven years of higher education experience in Washington state where he was the vice president of administrative services at Bellevue College and the vice president of human resources at Edmonds College. Prior to that, he served 24 years on active duty in the US Air Force and retired as Colonel in 2016. He held a number of positions as a commander, staff officer, and budget analyst at the Pentagon, the Republic of Korea, and in a number of other locations across the country.
Dr. Jon Hooten
Executive Director, College Advancement
Education: B.A. Anderson University (Ind.); M.A. Claremont School of Theology; Ph.D./M.A., Claremont School of Theology.
Jon Hooten joined Hancock College in the fall 2018 as Executive Director of College Advancement, where he oversees the Allan Hancock Foundation, as well as public affairs, campus graphics, and grants administration at the college. With a passion for educational equity and access, he has worked with a variety of educational institutions and nonprofit organizations in areas of development, communications, brand development, and academic program design.
Ruben C. Ramirez
Director, Human Resources
Education: B.A. California State University Northridge; M.A. University of Redlands
Mr. Ramirez joined Allan Hancock College in the fall of 2018 as the Director of Human Resources. Prior to joining AHC, he served as the Associate Director of Human Resources for San Diego State University Research Foundation. After beginning his HR career in the hospitality industry, Ramirez transitioned to higher education serving in roles for both South Orange County Community College District and College of the Desert prior to his tenure with SDSU. With over 18 years of progressive human resources experience in both the public and private sector, Ramirez understands what it takes to attract, hire, develop, and retain talent in a challenging labor market.
Lauren Milbourne
Director, Public Affairs and Communications
Education: B.A., California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo
Ms. Milbourne has served as the director of public information and communications at Allan Hancock College since the fall of 2018. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in journalism from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Milbourne began her career as a news producer for KSBY 6-Action News. Over the past decade, she has worked in higher education at multiple California community colleges, most recently as the public information officer at Cuesta College. At Allan Hancock College, Milbourne oversees the public relations, communications, marketing, publications, graphics, and printing operations.
DR. ANDY SPECHT
Director, Information Technology Services
Education: B.A. Lawrence University, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Andy Specht has been in the role of ITS Director since the summer of 2018. He began his technology career at MINDBODY in San Luis Obispo before joining Allan Hancock College as a systems analyst in 2015. He believes in using technology to improve student learning and student success, and he works to ensure that the college employs technology effectively and securely.