Dr. Mark Rocha isn’t afraid to think big.

So it makes sense that when Pasadena City College — with a student population almost four times the size of Rocha’s current campus — came looking for its next president, he didn’t play coy.

“Pasadena came along and recruited me. They had an open position and I did apply for it,” said Rocha, who will serve his final day as the president of West Los Angeles College on June 30, before moving into his new digs near the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.

“I just think it’s a good thing for me as far as my professional development and my family.”

Rocha, 58, came to West L.A. four years ago, following a stint as the vice president of academic affairs at Mission College — another of the nine colleges that make up the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). While he had nothing but positive things to say about West L.A. specifically and the LAACD in general, he stressed the opportunity to move to a school with the size and stature of Pasadena City College was simply too good to ignore.

“It’s just a bigger college. A bigger opportunity. A bigger challenge,” Rocha said. “It’s just a bigger job. A bigger responsibility.

“When an opportunity comes along, you take a look at it and make the best decision you can for yourself and your family.”

During his stint at West L.A., Rocha has been integral in growing not only the college’s student footprint — “We have grown by 50% over the four years, so it’s great to be serving so many more people in the community” — but also its actual physical size. The campus, located just outside Culver City’s city limits, is currently in the midst of a $413 million expansion featuring new classrooms, performing arts and athletic facilities, and infrastructure.

“It’s just turning into a showcase for the community,” Rocha said. “We’re pretty proud of it.”

However, the building boom has not been all sunshine and lollipops on the local front. During an April 5 meeting of the Culver City City Council, all five members, city staff and several nearby residents lambasted the college regarding the 2010 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) submitted as part of the college’s facilities master plan. Among the concerns were traffic, parking, construction noise and community access to specific facilities.

Rocha stressed that the public outcry had nothing to do with his decision to leave his post in favor of the same title in Pasadena.

“Dead, flat no. Not even in the slightest,” Rocha said. “Whenever you do a huge construction project, there’s always going to be certain community members, who we respect, who are going to bitterly oppose it.

“The fact of the matter is, behind the scenes … our relationship (between the college and city officials) has always been positive.”

Interim City Manager P. Lamont Ewell echoed those sentiments while offering that Rocha’s leadership and collaborative spirit will be missed locally.

“With hopes, they’ll find someone who is of an equal caliber of Dr. Rocha,” said Ewell, thrust into the controversy soon after taking over the city reins on April 1. “In that short period of time, he and I have worked very hard to resolve some of the issues between the college, the neighborhoods and the city. …

“It’s refreshing to be able to work with someone who’s as committed to finding solutions and being a problem solver. I think he’s going to do a great job in Pasadena.”

There is no word on the timetable for bringing aboard Rocha’s replacement at West L.A. A call seeking comment from the LACCD was not returned as of press time.

While the city typically has not been involved in such matters, Ewell added he would welcome the opportunity to have a voice in how West L.A. proceeds in its search for a new president.

“It would be refreshing if they reached out to their neighbor, the city of Culver City, and asked what kind of traits we were interested in,” Ewell said. “If they just follow the same parameters (of Dr. Rocha) I would say they will do well and the city of Culver City would do equally as well.”