Dr. Garcia Chosen for Aspen Presidents Fellowship
March 25, 2026 - 03:01 PM
Mt. San Antonio College President Dr. Martha Garcia has been selected as one of 23 community college leaders nationwide to participate in the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Aspen Presidents Fellowship.
Through the fellowship, Dr. Garcia will advance Mt. SAC’s efforts to strengthen student success by developing a reform agenda focused on increasing the number of students who graduate into high-quality jobs, either directly after community college or through transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment. The program equips presidents with research-based strategies drawn from high-performing institutions and provides opportunities to collaborate with national experts and peer leaders.
“I’m deeply honored to join a national community of leaders who believe in the transformative power of education to change lives,” Dr. Garcia said. “At Mt. SAC, our work is driven by improving student outcomes and a deep commitment to ensuring every student reaches their goals, discovers their potential and completes their journey, transferring with purpose, and stepping into careers that create lasting opportunity and financial stability for them, their families and future generations. I look forward to bringing back bold, innovative strategies that will help us expand this impact and uplift more students and our communities toward futures filled with possibility and promise.”
As part of the fellowship, Dr. Garcia will work alongside accomplished community college presidents and Aspen leaders to analyze labor market trends, institutional outcomes, and national models of excellence. The program includes multi-day residential sessions, webinars, and ongoing peer and expert feedback to help refine each fellow’s reform agenda.
Dr. Garcia joins a cohort of leaders representing colleges across 14 states, serving diverse communities in rural, suburban, and urban regions. They become part of a national network of more than 400 Aspen fellowship alumni, over 200 of whom are sitting presidents, committed to advancing student success and economic mobility.
“We know from 15 years of intensive research how the best community colleges equip students with the skills and credentials that lead to good jobs and flourishing lives,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “These 23 presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions, so those outcomes become the norm for every student.”
