Mt. San Antonio College has named Martha Garcia as the new president and chief executive officer for the college, where as the school’s first “president of color” she will take the helm of the largest single-district college in the state.
The college’s Board of Trustees announced the selection on Friday, April 7, with plans to appoint her during the board’s regular meeting on April 12.
She will assume her new role on July 1, running an institution that serves about 50,000 annually.
Garcia’s selection follows community input and feedback from Mt. SAC students, faculty and staff in a process that started last year.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr. Garcia to Mt. SAC as its 10th 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.”
Garcia earned a doctorate of education 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’s degree from Imperial Valley College.
“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,” 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.”
Garcia’s most recent post has been as president and superintendent of College of the Desert, a post she began in August 2021. Before that, she served the same role for Imperial Valley College. She was the first woman to lead the college. I
For 21 years there, according to Mt. SAC, she secured over $16 million toward the college and also served as vice president of student services, acting vice president of Academic Services and special projects coordinator overseeing career education programs.
She was also responsible for developing and coordinating a $5.8 million California Career Pathways Trust Grant, “Salud y Seguridad para la Comunidad Project,” which enabled Imperial Valley College to create Peace Officer Standards and Training Level One.
She also serves on several boards and task forces, including the California Association of Latino Community College Trustees and Administrators and Community College League of California Affordability
Garcia is poised to replace Bill Scroggins, who has led Mt. SAC for 12 years and who retiring at the end of June.
Scroggins took office in 2011, as the ninth president and CEO of Mt. SAC.
The college grew rapidly from there. It expanded academic offerings, working with industry to ensure graduates were prepared by more than six dozen new programs. There’s even a drone piloting and social justice program.
Student services also grew, such as its Equity Center and Veterans Resource Center.
Officials have touted Scroggins’ leadership guiding the college through its years-long recovery from the Great Recession as well as through the pandemic.
