Celebrating 50 Years of Service to Ventura County
"For 50 years, we've proudly served Ventura County—championing education and opportunity for our community’s immigrant, working-class, and military families. As we celebrate this milestone, we pay tribute to the generations of visionary educators, students, and community members whose dedication has shaped us into the institution we are today. Their legacy inspires our work some fifty years later and illuminates our vision for the next half century of excellence. This is more than a celebration—it’s a tribute to our past and a commitment to our future; fifty years in and the best is yet to come!"
Dr. Roberto Gonzalez
President, Oxnard College
Our History
Historically, the need for a community college serving the Oxnard Plain has been recognized by the Oxnard, Camarillo, and Port Hueneme communities and the governing board and administration of the Ventura County Community College District, since the district was formed in 1962.
Founded on the understanding established in those early years, the 118 acre college site was purchased in 1968. In 1969, the first classes offered under an Oxnard Center concept were offered at Ramona School in Oxnard. The Oxnard Center program expanded in the fall of 1973 with the opening of the Oxnard Educational Center at 9th and B streets in Oxnard, under the direction of Ventura College; in February, 1974, a Camarillo Center opened under the auspices of Moorpark College.The 2000 AD Educational Master Plan and strong support from the Oxnard-Port Hueneme area focused attention on the need for a third college in the spring of 1974, and trustees officially voted to build Oxnard College on March 26, 1974.The college officially opened its doors in June, 1975, for its first summer session, utilizing the Oxnard and Camarillo centers begun by the other two colleges in the district, and adding classes at a variety of sites throughout the Oxnard Plain.
By mid-fall, 1975, Oxnard College had more than 4,400 students enrolled and during the spring semester that number was even higher -- in all likelihood a record enrollment for first-year community colleges in this state.In fall, 1979, the first two permanent buildings were occupied on the campus. A Liberal Arts building houses 20 classrooms plus science and business laboratories and faculty office wings, and a Library/Learning Resources Center holds the college Library, Learning Center, general classrooms, and administrative and student services offices.The more recently constructed Occupational Education Building houses the college's information processing, air conditioning and refrigeration, hotel and restaurant management, electronics, and word processing programs. A new Child Development Center opened in early 1992, and a new Physical Education Complex with basketball and racquetball courts, showers and lockers, dance room and weight training facilities officially opened in the fall of 1994. The construction of a Language Arts/Math/Science Building was completed in 1997. Other campus buildings include two relocatable classroom buildings, a vocational shop building, a student services center, student activities center and a food services facility.
Oxnard College continues to be committed to developing a comprehensive educational program as well as a comprehensive campus environment for the students of its service area.
Anniversary Events
Monday, June 16th
Oxnard College employees gathered to celebrate the college’s birthday with mariachi, folklorico, games, tacos and cake! See photos from this event in our 50th Anniversary Photo Gallery.
Tuesday, September 16th | 12pm - 1pm
Join us for an afternoon of art, music, and dance. Our featured guest, Elena Brokaw of the Museum of Ventura County, will present on 50 years of OC’s history and impact in Ventura County. This event is free and open to the public. Read full details of this event here.
Thursday, September 25th | 12pm - 1pm | Front of Condor Hall | Open to All | Light Refreshments Served
Oxnard College is celebrating its 50th anniversary this academic year, reflecting on five decades of empowering students, shaping careers and strengthening Ventura County. The milestone was marked on September 25th with the unveiling of a new campus mural by alumna Elisa Torres and her team of student artists.
Funded by the Oxnard College Foundation, the mural depicts the people, places and traditions that have defined Oxnard and the college’s role in the community over the last half-century. The college first opened its doors in 1975 after local families, community leaders and activists came together to advocate for equitable access to higher education in Oxnard.
Oxnard College 50th Anniversary Mural Design Notes
- Channel Islands & Dolphins: Represents the origin story of the Chumash people crossing to the mainland — symbolizing ancestral guidance and cultural roots.
- Rising Suns: Marks a new day, honoring both past and future generations of students.
- Green Fields: Reflect Oxnard’s agricultural history and the labor that built the city.
- Larry Itliong w/Megaphone: Filipino-American labor leader who fought for farmworker rights.
- Female Fieldworker: Represents the strength and resilience of women in agriculture.
- Black Woman in Traditional Attire: Honoring cultural identity and representation.
- Chumash Basket: Symbol of Indigenous culture.
- Acorn: Traditional Chumash food; represents oak trees and biodiversity.
- Black Student Reading: Represents historical awareness and academic pursuit.
- Young Man Studying with Computer: Symbolizes modern education and future careers.
- Strawberry: Main crop of Oxnard and a symbol of local labor economy.
- DNA Strand: Represents science and innovation.
- Paint Palette & Brush: Represents the arts and creative expression.
- Microchip: Symbolizes computer science and technology.
- Stethoscope: Represents our dental hygiene and EMT program and health care fields.
- Fire Helmet: Fire protective helmet (fireman/woman helmet) to symbolize Public Safety.
- Julie Tumamait: Chumash elder honoring Indigenous wisdom and leadership.
- Graduating Student: Represents student success, hope, and the future of Oxnard College.
Sunday, April 26th | 12:30pm - 4pm
Join Oxnard College’s fifth annual Family Festival for a day filled with live music and dance, a Kid’s Zone, marketplace vendors and food trucks, community partners, information on OC programs, and more. This event is free and open to the public.
In the News
This guest article by Dr. Roberto Gonzalez appeared in the VC Star on January 25, 2025.
2025 marks 50 years of service here at Oxnard College. For a half-century, our campus has proudly championed progress and social mobility through academic and career advancement. Although our anniversary celebration will begin in the fall semester, 2025 is already shaping up to bring some exciting developments to Oxnard College.
With our enrollments now surpassing even their pre-pandemic levels, we are poised for even further growth and advancements. From providing student housing to launching new curriculum and even a bachelor’s degree, we are addressing some of Ventura County’s most dire needs.
One of our community’s greatest challenges remains the skyrocketing cost of housing, which is why we are excited to partner with Cal State University Channel Islands this year in offering Oxnard College students the opportunity to live in university housing on the CSUCI campus all while taking classes here at OC. With access to dining halls, libraries, and university events, our students will experience CSUCI’s exciting student life all while benefiting from OC’s excellent and affordable classes. This new partnership will encourage our students to consider CSUCI as an excellent transfer destination.
We are also advancing much-needed academic and career opportunities for our region. This fall semester, we will proudly launch our first-ever bachelor's degree, which will focus on Dental Hygiene. That’s a historic milestone for our college and great news for many dental students already earning their two-year degrees through our award-winning Dental Clinic. Ask around and you will find that many of Ventura County’s dental offices are staffed by Oxnard College’s excellent dental hygiene graduates, but those offices need even more graduates and higher levels of training.
That’s why we are excited to begin offering prospective students a pathway to a four-year degree, which will open the doors to higher-level positions in dental management, administration, teaching, and research development, among other opportunities. Similarly, our sister colleges are implementing their own their own four-year programs, with Moorpark College offering a bachelor’s in Biomanufacturing while Ventura College will begin offering its bachelor’s in Automotive Career Education this fall semester.
Our latest academic offerings include other exciting career prospects as well. This semester we are expanding our new Logistics Program, which was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and the Port of Hueneme to meet local workforce needs. This substantive program prepares students with the skills needed for careers in high-demand logistics and supply chain management.
We are also investing heavily in existing programs such as our Dual Enrollment offerings, which help middle and high school students earn free, transferrable college units. In addition, we are growing our English as a Second Language (ESL) program, which helps residents hone their English-language skills through classes offered in Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and El Rio.
Aside from these exciting areas for growth, various challenges loom on the horizon, including many of our students feeling uncertain as our nation’s divisive discourse increasingly targets vulnerable communities. That is why we are strengthening our Dream Resource Center’s efforts to serve undocumented students and families — the center offers workshops, services, and a safe space here on campus.
Additionally, the Oxnard College Foundation’s marketplace, held on campus every Sunday morning starting from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. is continuing to host its Swap Meet for Justice during the final Sunday of each month. This opportunity provides an array of free legal, social, and other services for undocumented and immigrant families.
Sadly, many other communities are also feeling vulnerable as this year begins. Back in 2021, we were proud to be our county’s first public institution to raise the Progress Flag during Pride Month and look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come.
However, we also know that while symbols are powerful, they must be matched by on-the-ground work. That’s why the efforts to support LGBTQIA+ students through resources like our Rainbow Café and Resource Center, along with events like our district’s Lavender Graduation, are so vital to ensuring our Queer community feels valued and welcome during uncertain times. We must ensure similar services and programs do the same in supporting all the diverse groups who strengthen our community.
We are proud of Oxnard College’s impactful work here in Ventura County. As we celebrate 50 years of service, we are also laying the foundation for the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers who will continue strengthening our region in the years to come.
Together, we will build another half-century of excellence here at Oxnard College.
– Dr. Roberto Gonzalez
Dr. Roberto Gonzalez is president of Oxnard College.
This article appeared in the Ventura County Star on September 26, 2025.
The mural, designed by Oxnard College alumna and artist Elisa Torres, spans multiple walls of the college's Condor Hall and features images of students and a farmworker. Chumash elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie and Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong are also depicted.
Oxnard College was founded in 1975 after a campaign from local families, community leaders and activists, joining sister institutions in Moorpark and Ventura.
The college has grown since a post-pandemic enrollment dip. Earlier this year, it reached the highest springtime enrollment since 2010 with 7,600 students. The bump comes along with a new dental hygiene bachelor's program that launched in the fall and what the college said are expanding workforce development, dual enrollment and English as a second language programs.
Article by Isaiah Murtaugh, Ventura County Star
Isaiah Murtaugh covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or on Signal at 951-966-0914.
Recent national and state recognitions highlight college’s commitment to student success and economic mobility
Oxnard College is celebrating its 50th anniversary this academic year, reflecting on five decades of empowering students, shaping careers and strengthening Ventura County. The milestone was marked on September 25 with the unveiling of a new campus mural by alumna Elisa Torres and her team of student artists.
Funded by the Oxnard College Foundation, the mural depicts the people, places and traditions that have defined Oxnard and the college’s role in the community over the last half-century. The college first opened its doors in 1975 after local families, community leaders and activists came together to advocate for equitable access to higher education in Oxnard.
“Oxnard College’s 50th anniversary is a tribute to our roots and a commitment to the next half-century of excellence,” said Dr. Roberto Gonzalez, president of Oxnard College. “With new programs, partnerships and recognitions, Oxnard College is building the future our students and community deserve.”
Oxnard College’s 50th anniversary year has been marked by important achievements in academics and recognition for its community impact. The college recently launched its first-ever bachelor’s degree program in dental hygiene, welcoming its inaugural cohort of 20 students. Fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the program prepares students for licensure as Registered Dental Hygienists and builds on the program’s long-standing reputation for excellence in hands-on clinical training, strong board exam performance and community engagement.
Additionally, Oxnard College was recently ranked 9th in the nation among two-year Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) by the Washington Monthly College Rankings, which partners with Excelencia in Education to prioritize colleges advancing social mobility, equity and student opportunity. The organization provides an important alternative to traditional rankings like U.S. News & World Report, which focus more on prestige and selectivity. The college was also ranked among the top 10 community colleges in California for return on investment by College Futures, with most graduates earning back their out-of-pocket expenses within just six months of graduating. This distinction underscores Oxnard College’s commitment to providing affordable, high-quality education that leads directly to economic mobility.
Oxnard College is also deepening its partnerships to expand workforce development opportunities in Ventura County. A new collaboration with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) will utilize campus space for hands-on training in the building and construction trades. Additionally, forward-thinking initiatives, such as a Logistics programdeveloped in partnership with the U.S. Navy and the Port of Hueneme, are also preparing students for careers in global industries rooted here at home.
Oxnard College continues to expand its existing offerings to serve the community and open doors for students of all backgrounds. The college’s English as a Second Language program has grown by 134% since 2022, serving Ventura County’s diverse communities at new locations in Oxnard, El Rio and Port Hueneme. The college is also seeing growth in its Dual Enrollment program, which has grown by 36% since 2022, giving local high school students a tuition-free head start on higher education. These efforts reflect Oxnard College’s commitment to increasing access, equity and opportunity for learners at every stage.
Community leaders have taken note of the college’s continued impact. “As an alumnus of Oxnard College, I know firsthand the life-changing impact this institution has had for countless individuals,” said Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur. “For a half a century, Oxnard College has been a source of hope and support for our community, guiding individuals as they work toward their goals and build brighter, more fulfilling lives.”
This article appeared in the Ventura County Reporter on October 16, 2025.
Ariana Villalobos-Castillo was just one month away from her Oxnard High School graduation when she learned she wasn’t going to be able to go to the four-year university she had planned on attending.
She considered enrolling at Ventura College where some of her friends were headed, but instead chose Oxnard College, primarily because it was a shorter drive. Villalobos-Castillo, 20, told the Ventura County Reporter she wasn’t sure what she wanted to study.
“Oxnard College was just really patient with me. They were welcoming. And they made me feel seen and heard on the resources I needed to apply for community college,” she said. “That’s when I knew I was going to stay at Oxnard College and do my higher education here, because, just the way they treated me as a student, it made me feel very welcome and made me feel like a home away from home.”
Villalobos-Castillo always had an interest in human anatomy, having played sports in high school, and is majoring in kinesiology, the study of human movement with an emphasis on exercise science. The courses have opened her eyes to different job opportunities in health-related fields and she already has a part-time job working as an athletic trainer at Oxnard College.
“I enjoy every aspect of athletic training,” she said. “It’s just a great opportunity for me that was given to me at Oxnard College, and it’s expanding my interest in kinesiology even more.”
College with a heart
Villalobos-Castillo has also excelled as a student leader, and was elected Oxnard College Associated Student Government President. That position has given her a role in this year’s festivities commemorating Oxnard College’s 50th anniversary. So far, she’s attended a panel discussion of notable alumni as well as a mural unveiling.
“It made me really excited for the future. I was sitting hearing the speeches at the mural unveiling, hearing the history of Oxnard College, and I was like, I should be alive in 50 years, I would want to come back and speak on what it was like here at Oxnard College 50 years ago when Oxnard College turns 100 years old,” Villalobos-Castillo said.
“The way it’s grown so much and the resources that it has for students, the love and care it has for students just within 50 years. I can only imagine how far it’s going to go in 50 more years when we hit 100, and how much we’re going to blossom.”
Villalobos-Castillo is planning to transfer to either California State University, Northridge or Channel Islands next year after completing her associate’s degree. She’s not at all sad she didn’t start out at a university and will always cherish her time at Oxnard College.
“It changes the way you think. It changes your life experience. It changes the way you are as a person for the better,” she said, adding that going straight from high school to a junior college helps people mature.
“It just allowed me to have more clarity within what I want to do and who I want to be as a person. Especially at Oxnard College, everyone is just so happy to be there for us students and just wants the best for us students. And I think that’s what really made me gravitate towards Oxnard College, because we say this all the time, but it really is a great saying. Oxnard College is the college with a heart.”
Taking the reins during times of change
Dr. Roberto Gonzalez took over as president of Oxnard College about a year ago following over a quarter century as an administrator at Santa Monica College and West Los Angeles College in the Los Angeles Community College District. He’s happy to lead Oxnard College during such an auspicious year.
“It’s humbling just to hear the history of the college and what it’s taken to get to 50 years and the impact the college has had in that short period of time,” Gonzalez told the VCReporter.
“Every time I’m out in the community I meet alumni that are doing different things; they’re engineers, they’re public servants, they’re dental hygienists. And they really talk about the impact that the college has had on their lives.
“So it’s a point of pride for us that we got here and that we have served the working class, immigrant, military families in Ventura County, and that we continue to serve and aspire to be better, do better for our families. And all of that is impacting our region, our county and where we go in the future.”
Accolades and advancements
Gonzalez said Oxnard College has won many accolades in recent years, including landing on Top 10 lists for “return on investment,” or the economic value provided by the programs, and for serving Hispanic students. Programs it is best known for include the Oxnard College Regional Fire Academy producing new first responders and a dental hygiene program which just added the college’s first bachelor’s degree.
“So, we have a four-year degree. That’s our first one. We’re hoping that we’ll have others,” said Gonzalez, mentioning a recent partnership with the U.S. Navy and a new logistics certificate launched last year.
“Which is critical because, of course, the port (of Hueneme) being such a big economic driver for the region and of course the Navy base being such a large employer, it’s great that we have that partnership being so close to both the port and the Navy to help them out and contribute to our economic well-being here in the county,” the college president said.
Gonzalez said the Sept. 25 mural unveiling was a special day on campus since the giant artwork is right in front of Condor Hall, in the center of campus. The mural was created by alumna Elisa Torres and a team of student artists.
“In essence it depicts our history. How the college was founded, showcasing some local activists that really contributed to the area and different fields including agriculture. Advocating for farm worker rights…And of course, we highlight education and the impact of education on the lives of our students. And highlighting our fire academy and public service tracks, dental hygiene. So just highlighting the history, but also highlighting some of the programs that we have here at the college and how that has shaped the college.”
Finding direction at Oxnard College
Ventura County’s elected Clerk and Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion graduated from Oxnard College after she first tried an out-of-state college on for size, not too far from the Canadian border. After graduating from Oxnard’s private Santa Clara High School, she spent one cold academic year at Eastern Washington University near Spokane.
“I couldn’t stay there; the weather was too extreme. I’m a SoCal girl, so it’s ruined me for the rest of the country,” Ascencion told the VCReporter. “So, I did one year out there, came back and went to Oxnard College from 1994 to 1996.”
There was another huge change in Ascencion’s life after returning to Oxnard; she had her first son.
“So, you know, I was a young, single mom and just kind of like trying to navigate, taking care of him, going to school, working part time. And I found the Oxnard College community to be very supportive. They have programs for students like that. So, you know, it really helps to have that support to get through those hard times,” she said.
At first, Ascencion wanted to become a veterinarian, but said she “bombed” a couple of midterms in chemistry and biology classes, and realized her brain “was not wired” for a life in science. It was an English professor who helped point her in the direction of communications and public service.
“I went to him and was just like, “God, I don’t know what to do. I thought this is what I always wanted to do, but I just can’t swing these classes.’ And he’s kind of looking at me and he goes, ‘Don’t you know that you’re an amazing writer?’ And I was like, ‘Really?’ I mean, I thought I could write okay, but I didn’t think I was amazing. And so then I thought, okay, well, let me just redirect. So then, on the spot, I decided to change my major to journalism,” she said.
“I took more writing and composition and creative writing and English classes, and I was really flourishing. So that was the new direction. Like, you know, just total pivot in my life and, you know, ended up going in that direction.”
Thanks to family and community
Back in the 1990s, graduation ceremonies at Oxnard College were on a smaller scale than they are now and graduates were encouraged to share a few words, Ascencion said.
“I thanked my parents, I thanked my family and thanked my little guy,” she said. “It’s just really cool to hear everybody’s different stories, all the different obstacles that people had to overcome to reach that day.”
Ascencion transferred to California State University, San Luis Obispo — not the easiest environment for a single mom, in her experience.
“It was tough,” she recalled. “I was homesick the first time I left, you know, it was just me. But then this time leaving I had my son with me. So it was just like, wow, I’m kind of on my own out here…not knowing what was ahead had me maybe a little fearful, a little nervous.
“But then I learned, okay, I can make it, I can do this adulting thing. It wasn’t called adulting back then, but, you know, I’m a real grown up. I can do this. I can pay bills and pay rent and make dinner and take care of my kid and study. And it was busy. It was a really busy time. I mean, I look back now and I’m just like, oh my God, how did I do all of that? But I was younger then and probably had more energy.”
As part of the anniversary celebration, Ascencion spoke during a panel discussion about her experience, her history at Oxnard College and her later rise to leadership, which included time as a public information officer for the city of Port Hueneme and Oxnard’s city clerk before she was elected to her current office.
“It’s kind of surreal, actually, because back when I was at O.C., I was young, I was poor, I was, you know, just a student. I just didn’t have a whole lot,” she said. “And then now coming back and being able to talk about my experiences and my life and my education and now as the county clerk and recorder, the first woman and person of color to be elected to that office, it felt like a full circle kind of moment.”
Ascencion said her mother was so inspired by her graduation from Oxnard College that she went back to school in her later years and earned a degree of her own. One of Ascension’s two sons is an Oxnard College graduate and one of her two daughters is a current Oxnard College student who also works on campus in the tutoring center. And even today, Ascencion still lives in the same neighborhood as Oxnard College.
“When I go on my walks, I walk through the campus all the time,” she said. “I’m really proud of the school. I’m proud that Oxnard has this fine institution. But when you say ‘institution,’ it sounds so cold, I mean, nothing about Oxnard College is cold. It’s supportive, encouraging, and it feels like they do everything they can to help their students succeed and thrive.”
This guest article by Dr. Roberto Gonzalez appeared in the VC Star on October 25, 2025.
This year, we proudly celebrate Oxnard College’s 50th anniversary — a milestone rooted in the vision and determination of the community we serve.
We first opened our doors in 1975, answering the call of working-class and immigrant families who stood up and spoke out. They demanded a college that would equitably serve their children and neighbors, a college rooted in excellence and opportunity. Many doubted it could happen. Some opposed it outright. Then our Board of Trustees, answering the community’s call, voted to make it a reality.
Since that vote, we’ve come to be known as “The College with a Heart.” This mantra reminds us that compassion and community are at the center of everything we do.
As the third college added to the Ventura County Community College District all those years ago, we’ve stayed true to our founding purpose: serving those who are too often left out of traditional higher education. We are a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, deeply connected to Ventura County’s Latino community and underserved families. A half-century later, we’re still growing, still guiding students forward.
This anniversary year has been one of celebration and progress on our campus. One of the most powerful highlights was the unveiling of a new mural on our campus, created by alumna Elisa Torres and a team of our art students. It tells the story of who we are: our origins, our students, our future. It’s more than a piece of art — it’s a bold expression of our identity and pride.
We’ve also launched our first-ever bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene — one of over 40 four-year degree programs now being offered at California community colleges. This new offering meets a critical workforce need while providing students with an affordable path to a four-year degree and a meaningful career.
We’re also expanding hands-on learning opportunities. This year, we are partnering with the Laborers’ International Union (LiUNA) to provide trades training right here on campus. Additionally, our Logistics program — developed with the U.S. Navy and the Port of Hueneme — prepares students for careers in global supply chains. We’re also helping our residents achieve their goals through expanded ESL and Dual Enrollment offerings, opening new doors for local high schoolers and adult learners alike.
The results are real. Washington Monthly recently ranked Oxnard College ninth in the nation among two-year Hispanic-Serving Institutions for our work advancing social mobility, equity and student opportunity. We were also named among the top 10 community colleges in California by College Futures for return on investment, with most graduates earning back their out-of-pocket expenses within just six months of graduating.
Behind every statistic is a story: a first-generation student transferring to a university, a parent earning a certificate while supporting a family, or a graduate stepping into a career that sustains their household and strengthens our local economy.
In city halls, classrooms, offices and medical facilities across Ventura County, our alumni are making an impact. They’re firefighters protecting neighborhoods, entrepreneurs driving economic growth, healthcare professionals safeguarding public health, educators and counselors guiding the next generation and elected officials representing our communities. Some are even public servants giving back right here at Oxnard College. Since first opening our doors in 1975, well over 40,000 degrees and certificates have been awarded to graduates. Their stories may have started here at Oxnard College, but their impact has been felt far beyond our campus.
As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we do so with purpose and resolve. We will expand pathways that align with our region’s workforce. We’ll invest in support services — from mental health to basic needs — to help every student thrive, and we’ll continue breaking down barriers so that more students can access opportunity and achieve their goals.
Fifty years ago, our residents believed that this community deserved a college that reflected its spirit and promise. We’re proud to carry that vision forward every day.
To those of you who have supported us over the past half-century — our students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees and community partners — thank you. You are the heart of Oxnard College and because of you, our future is bright.
Here’s to the next 50 years of excellence at Oxnard College; grounded in service, guided by equity and true to our mission as the college with a heart.
– Dr. Roberto Gonzalez
Dr. Roberto Gonzalez is president of Oxnard College.