Cultivating Equity Minded Student Services Professionals

Dr.Garcia is an educational leader who is passionate about issues of access, equity, and student success in higher education. Over the past 15 years her professional experiences include direct student support, teaching, and administrative roles in non-profit organizations, secondary education, and higher education. Currently, she is the Vice President of Student Services at Skyline College. Prior to Skyline College, Dr. Garcia worked in four-year colleges, both public and private, non-profit, as faculty and administrator for programs and services promoting student success. As an experienced educator, she combines her education and training as a social worker with her research and work in higher education to design and implement evidenced-based programs and services that support the retention and success of all students. Dr. Garcia is committed to leading with integrity, teaching from a student centered framework, and promotes building collaborative relationships across instructional and student services divisions to create “student-ready” institutions of higher education, rather than focus on students being “college-ready” for our institutions. During her tenure at San Diego State University, she was a social worker and instructor for foster youth, as they transitioned into higher education. Dr. Garcia’s work at four institutions includes leading institutional efforts on issues of equity and diversity, summer bridge programs, and academic support programs for first-generation college students.

Dr. Edward Bush is an innovative leader with over 20 years of experience in the California Community College system. He currently serves as the President of Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, California. Under his leadership, the college has seen improvement of student outcomes while reducing gaps in achievement for students of color and other historically marginalized student populations. Dr. Bush is active in several community organizations including serving on the board for four non-profit foundations. This includes the African American Male Network and Development Incorporated (A2MEND), which he founded. A2MEND is a non-profit organization that is comprised of African American male administrators who utilize their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within the community college system. Additionally, he co-authored The Plan: A Guide for Women Raising African American Boys from Conception to College and African American Male Theory. He also published three book chapters and 10 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Bush holds a PhD in Urban Educational Leadership from Claremont Graduate University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.