President's Office

Dr. James Perey became the 12th President of Cochise College on February 15, 2025. An educator and leader with 29 years of experience across K-12 and higher education, he has dedicated his career to student success, workforce development, community engagement, and expanding educational opportunities.

Prior to becoming president, Dr. Perey served as Cochise College’s Executive Vice President for Academics. Previously, he held several leadership positions at Yavapai College, including Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Executive Dean of the Verde Valley Campus and Sedona Center, and Associate Dean for Career and Technical Education. He began his community college career as a faculty member in Agribusiness and previously served at the University of Arizona and as a high school agricultural education teacher.

Dr. Perey is active in local, state, and national service and serves on the Commission for Small and Rural Colleges through the American Association of Community Colleges. He is a graduate of Project CENTRL, the Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education, and the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship.

A native Arizonan and United States Army veteran, Dr. Perey earned degrees from the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and Grand Canyon University. He is passionate about the transformative role community colleges play in improving lives, strengthening the workforce, and enriching communities. He lives in Sierra Vista with his wife, Jessica, and their two daughters, Hayden and Brooke.