Hidalgo Elected Board President

December 17, 2024 - 12:22 AM

At its annual organizational meeting on Dec. 16, the Mt. San Antonio College Board of Trustees elected Peter Hidalgo as president, Robert Hidalgo as vice president, and Laura Santos as clerk. They each will serve one-year terms, effective immediately.  Outgoing president Dr. Manuel Baca was thanked for his service and praised by his colleagues. 

Trustee Peter Hidalgo  was elected to the Mt. San Antonio College Board of Trustees in 2020 and re-elected in 2024 to represent Area 1, which includes north Pomona, San Dimas, La Verne, and south Glendora. In 2024, his colleagues elected him Board President, recognizing his leadership and dedication to student success. A seasoned government affairs executive in the telecommunications industry, Trustee Hidalgo brings over 20 years of experience leading public affairs and communications teams across both public and private sectors. Trustee Hidalgo is a committed community leader, serving on the LA County Fair Governing Board and as a board member for Just Us 4 Youth, BizFed LA and LA’s BEST. He is also a Trustee at the University of La Verne and previously served as Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, where he championed regional economic development initiatives. Trustee Hidalgo was sworn in by Los Angeles County  Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who serves as the group's chair.

Trustee Robert Hidalgo was elected to the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees on Nov. 5, 2013, representing the District 4, which represents most of West Covina and Valinda.  He was re-elected in 2022. Previously, Trustee Hidalgo served on the Rowland Unified School Board of Education to which he was elected in 2005 and again in 2009.  In addition, he has served on the executive board for the California Latino School Board Association, Los Angeles County School Trustees Association, and the La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Program. Trustee Hidalgo, a West Covina resident, has over 20 years of experience in public education, having taught at both middle and high schools.

Trustee Laura Santos was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2013 and ran unopposed in the 2018 election. She was re-elected in 2022. She represents District 3(Baldwin Park, Irwindale, and portions of Bassett and West Covina), and previously served on the Basset Unified School District Board. Trustee Santos earned a B.A. in political science at UCLA and a law degree at UC Davis.  She practiced law for 10 years and is now a Public Relations Specialist. She has more than 20 years of experience in community and grassroots outreach and organizing. Much of her career has been spent working in communities of need to address equity and justice issues in education, health, poverty, and access to parks and open space.