DR. ANGELICA LOERA SUAREZ, PRESIDENT, ORANGE COAST COLLEGE, COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
Dr. Angelica Loera Suarez assumed the role of the 11th President of Orange Coast College (OCC) in July 2019. With over 20 years of experience as an educational leader, she now oversees one of Orange County's largest community colleges, which has been serving students since 1947.
Before accepting the presidency at OCC, Dr. Suarez served as the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President for Student Affairs for the Southwestern Community College District, located in San Diego County.
As past president of the California Community Colleges Chief Student Services Officers organization, Dr. Suarez championed statewide reform focused on the implementation of innovative, responsive, and equitable student success initiatives designed to close student achievement gaps. Her work advocating for students has continued through her leadership serving on multiple boards—the California Community Colleges Chief Executive Officers, the California Community College Athletic Association, and Girls, Inc. of Orange County. Most recently, Dr. Suarez was nationally recognized with the President’s Award by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Dr. Suarez's journey as an immigrant, English language learner, and first-generation college student is a testament to her resilience and determination. This narrative connects her directly to the shared experiences of California community college students. Her diverse community college experience, from being a former student, classified professional, and faculty member to an administrator, has provided her invaluable perspectives. Her educational background includes a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University Chicago, a master's degree in counseling psychology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University at Long Beach, and an associate degree from East Los Angeles College.
About Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College, with a student population exceeding 23,000 annually, offers exemplary programs leading to associate degrees and certificates in more than 130 career programs. The college is a leader in transfers to four-year institutions and is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).