De La Salle High School announces David Holquin as next President
CONCORD, CA – The school’s Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of David Holquin as president of De La Salle High School, effective July 1, 2021. He will take over from Mark DeMarco (De La Salle class of 1978), who is retiring at the end of this school year after 14 years as president.
Holquin joins De La Salle from another Lasallian school, Napa’s Justin-Siena High School, where he currently serves as president. He has nearly 20-years’ experience in school administration and is a product of Lasallian education. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento and from Saint Mary’s College of California. Holquin has a Master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of Notre Dame.
The announcement by Trustees Chair Frank Wagner (1973) is “the culmination of a thoughtful and thorough process that began with the formation of a Presidential Search Committee at the beginning of the current school year. The committee secured the services of an executive search firm to support its efforts and identified the leadership qualities and characteristics required of the next president.”
Nationwide search
Following an extensive nationwide search and in-depth review of applications, 17 candidates were identified and interviewed. Eight men and women advanced to more extensive interviews, after which three finalists were identified. The three finalists were invited to meet with members of the community including parents, faculty and staff members, alumni and other stakeholders over the course of three days. In addition, the Board then conducted an extensive interview with each finalist.
The Board of Trustees unanimously agreed with the search committee’s determination that Holquin best fit the needs of De La Salle and its community.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as the next President of De La Salle High School,” Holquin says. “The De La Salle community stands tall because of many giants. In particular, the exceptional work done by President DeMarco, the President’s Cabinet, and the entire faculty and staff demonstrably benefits the young men entrusted to our care. The Brothers, Trustees, parents, alumni, benefactors and students themselves round out a truly special community. We have great work ahead of us, and I am excited to begin this work with each of you.”
Board Chair Wagner expressed his gratitude to the other members of the search committee who worked with him on the selection of the President: Board members Teri Hurlbut, Brother Nick Gonzalez and Darrell Williams; and also, Mike Daniels, who represented the De La Salle Institute. Wagner added, The Board of Trustees is confident that David’s selection will continue to strengthen De La Salle’s commitment to the education of young men of faith, integrity and scholarship.”