OXNARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT LYDIA LEDESMA-REESE RECEIVES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
Dr. Lydia Ledesma-Reese, president of Oxnard College, was named the Outstanding Community College Leader by the National Community College Hispanic Council for 2005 at the NCCHC’s 10th Annual Leadership Symposium held Sept. 22-24, 2005, in Dallas, Texas.
The National Community College Hispanic Council is an affiliated council of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and was founded in 1985 to provide access, success and leadership development for Hispanics/Latinos(as) and expand curriculum and support services for Hispanic/Latino students.
Dr. Ledesma-Reese was nominated for the award by Dr. Jesus Carreon, Chancellor of the Dallas Community College District and was selected by the 17-member executive committee of NCCHC board members, including immediate NCCHC past president Dr. Ted Martinez, president of Grossmont College in El Cajon, and current NCCHC President Dr. Maria Vallejo, Provost of the Palm Beach Community College of Lake Worth, Florida. Dr. Vallejo presented Dr. Ledesma-Reese with the award at the Sept. 23 awards banquet.
“Dr. Ledesma-Reese is a role model for up-and-coming leaders and has given many hours of her time to mentor, inspire, and cultivate a new generation of leadership,” said Dr. Vallejo, adding that the Oxnard College president was selected based on her state and national reputation as a leader.
“Dr. Ledesma-Reese exemplifies the type of leader who can face the many trials and tribulations, withstand the challenges and hardships while remaining focused on students and the mission of the college,” said Dr. Vallejo.
“Dr. Lydia Ledesma-Reese was chosen for this award because over the years she has demonstrated the exemplary vision, planning and executive leadership that enhances access for Latino students in higher education,” said Dr. Martinez. The award recognizes leaders whose contributions to higher education have been “institutional, regional and national.”
In her continued support of the NCCHC, Dr. Ledesma-Reese has also increased community awareness of community colleges, he said.
Dr. Lydia Ledesma-Reese was appointed President of Oxnard College in 2002 after serving as president of Skagit Valley College in Washington for seven years. She was the first Latina president in higher education in the State of Washington.
As a displaced homemaker and re-entry student, Dr. Ledesma-Reese attended Cerritos College, Cypress and Saddleback Community Colleges, where she completed an associate arts degree in Liberal Studies. She obtained her baccalaureate degree in Speech Communication from California State University, Fullerton. Her master’s course work from California State Universities, Fullerton and San Diego was in Intercultural/International Communications. In 1987, she received her doctorate from Pepperdine University in Institutional Management and Leadership. Lydia attended Harvard University for postdoctoral work in management.
She began her career as a faculty member and continued on as Assistant to Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, University of California, Irvine, CA from 1982-1988; Assistant Dean of Technology, Cerritos Community College, CA form 1988-1989; and was Dean of Intercultural/International Studies and a tenured faculty member at De Anza Community College, CA from 1989-1992. Prior to becoming President of Skagit Valley College Dr. Ledesma-Reese worked as Vice President/Assistant Superintendent at Hartnell College, CA from 1992-1995.
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