Dr. Martha Garcia Named New President

May 06, 2023 - 01:49 PM

Dr. Martha Garcia has been selected as the new president of Mt. San Antonio College. She will assume her new position July 1. The Mt. SAC Board of Trustees announced today that it had reached an agreement with Dr. Garcia with plans to appoint her during its regular meeting on April 12.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr. Garcia to Mt. SAC as its 10^th president, its first female president in 50 years, and its first president of color,” stated Gary Chow, Mt. SAC Board of Trustees president. “Dr. Garcia has demonstrated she is committed to the transformative power of higher education, and the Board is confident she will provide excellent, inclusive, and student-focused leadership at Mt. SAC.”

As president, Dr. Garcia will serve as the chief executive officer for the largest single-district college in the state.

“I am ecstatic at the opportunity to lead Mt. SAC and I am grateful the Board has entrusted me to serve as the next president,” Dr. Garcia said. “I am looking forward to working with the college’s teams and especially to serving students. That’s why I do what I do.”

Dr. Garcia is currently president/superintendent of College of the Desert, a post she has held since August 2021.  Prior to joining College of the Desert, she served as superintendent/president of Imperial Valley College. In her 21 years at Imperial Valley College, Dr. Garcia also served as Vice President of Student Services, Acting Vice President of Academic Services, and Special Projects Coordinator overseeing career education programs.

Dr. Garcia’s academic credentials include a doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University, a master’s degree in Educational Counseling from National University, a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Diego State University, and an associate degree from Imperial Valley College.

Dr. Garcia currently serve, or has served, on several boards and task forces of numerous organizations, including the California Association of Latino Community College Trustees and Administrators, Community College League of California Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce, and the California Community Colleges Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Implementation Workgroup.

Dr. Garcia’s selection follows input and feedback from Mt. SAC students, faculty, staff and the community.  She will replace Dr. Bill Scroggins, who is retiring in June after  leading Mt. SAC for 12 years.