Meet David Coher

David Coher is a Pasadena resident, professional mediator, community leader, husband, father, and homeowner who is running for the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees to help ensure that higher education remains affordable, accessible, and accountable for future generations.

David's commitment to community colleges is deeply personal. Working his way through school, he began his higher education journey at a community college before earning a scholarship, transferring to the University of Southern California, and later earning a scholarship and his law degree from Georgetown Law. Scholarships and affordable access to higher education helped make those opportunities possible, and that experience has shaped his belief that today's students deserve the same pathway to success regardless of their financial circumstances. At a time when the cost of higher education continues to rise, David believes Pasadena City College plays a critical role in opening doors for students, working families, veterans, and lifelong learners throughout our community.

Professionally, David has spent more than two decades helping people solve difficult problems. As a nationally recognized mediator, he brings together individuals, businesses, and public entities facing some of the most complex and contentious disputes, helping them find common ground and practical solutions. Every day, he works with people who strongly disagree, listening carefully, building consensus, and guiding them toward thoughtful, lasting resolutions. He believes those same skills are essential for effective public service and collaborative governance.

David also brings extensive executive leadership experience from the private sector, where he managed large organizations, led complex teams, and was responsible for significant budgets and strategic decision-making. That experience taught him the importance of thoughtful planning, accountability, and ensuring that every dollar entrusted to an organization is spent wisely to achieve its mission.

His record of public service spans many years. David previously served on the Pasadena Planning Commission, the Pasadena Board of Zoning Appeals, and the City's 2021 Redistricting Commission, where he worked collaboratively with colleagues and members of the public to address important community issues. He has also served on a committee of the State Bar of California and has devoted countless hours to nonprofit and youth organizations. He currently serves as President of the Board of the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy, helping preserve the natural open spaces that define our region, and volunteers as an adult leader with Scouting America, mentoring young people as they develop leadership skills, character, and a commitment to service.

As a Pasadena homeowner raising a family in the community, David understands the importance of being a responsible steward of public resources. He believes taxpayers deserve careful, transparent, and fiscally responsible leadership, and that every dollar entrusted to Pasadena City College should be invested wisely in supporting students and strengthening educational opportunities. Fiscal responsibility and educational affordability are not competing priorities; they go hand in hand. By managing public resources thoughtfully, PCC can continue providing outstanding educational opportunities while remaining an affordable gateway to college and career success for all of our community.

David is running because he believes Pasadena City College changes lives, just as community college changed his. He is committed to preserving that opportunity for future generations by providing experienced, collaborative, and accountable leadership focused on students, educational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and the long-term success of the entire Pasadena Area Community College District.