President’s Welcome

Welcome to Berkeley City College and to this defining moment in your decision to pursue higher education and make strides towards your academic and career goals. As the college’s newly appointed President, I look forward to supporting and celebrating you every step of the way. I have dedicated my career’s work to promoting equitable access to higher education, closing equity gaps in student success, and cultivating an educational institution that is prepared and committed to student completion. The esteemed faculty, classified professionals, and administrators at Berkeley City College work collaboratively to provide you with a comprehensive, wholistic, and transformational educational experience.

We believe in the power of education as the engine for cultivating a democratic society, where the hopes and dreams of the community are nurtured. Our curriculum is rated among the highest academic standards in the state and we have the highest rate of transfer and completion to the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems. With more than 100 degree and certificate programs, there is absolutely space for you to achieve your goals.

Berkeley City College is prepared to provide world class education with a variety of learning spaces, including face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses. During this time of uncertainty, we are committed to your education, offering classes that fit your schedule. With comprehensive instruction and student support services, you will find support in your classes, tutoring, counseling, and specialized programs, such as the Promise Program, UMOJA, First Generation Program, NextGen (Foster Youth), and Veterans, to name a few . You are now part of the Berkeley City College community and we want you to succeed.

We know that completing college is an important step towards achieving your future goals and aspirations. We welcome you….all of you, because Berkeley City College is YOUR community college. Together, we can build an educational foundation that is grounded in academic excellence, an inclusive community, and where we contribute to the democratic citizenship for a global society.

I am honored to serve as your college President and I welcome you to Berkeley City College.

Sincerely,

Dr. Angélica Garcia (She | Her | Hers | Ella)
Berkeley City College, President
@BCCPrezGarcia

Biography

Dr. Angélica Garcia is an educational leader with a demonstrated commitment to improving access, equity, and student success in higher education. A Leadership Fellow of the National Community College Hispanic Council, Dr. Garcia earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership at San Francisco State University, a Master’s in Social Work at San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal and Civic Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California. During her tenure as Vice President of Student Services at Skyline College, Dr. Garcia’s leadership and collaboration led to the design and implementation of the Promise Scholars Program, a program focused on increasing two- and three-year graduation rates.  Impacting institutional change, she created and launched the Student Equity & Support Programs division, provided leadership for the implementation of Guided Pathways, and led college and district wide efforts to address food and housing insecurity experienced by students.

Dr. Garcia’s experience as a faculty member and administrator for programs and services promoting student success and completion in four-year colleges included her work in accreditation efforts and with deans and department chairs to analyze student success data to identify and address equity gaps. Through collaborative efforts with faculty, institutional research, and professional development colleagues, the college established a new equity-centered framework for integrated teaching and advising for all undergraduate students.

Dr. Garcia’s involvement in statewide issues includes serving as a member of the Student Centered Funding Formula Oversight Committee appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. Within this role, she also serves as the Chair for the sub-committee charged with addressing academic preparedness indicators in the Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF). Additionally, as a member of the statewide CCC Guided Pathways Advisory Committee, Dr. Garcia has advocated for increasing input from students, classified professionals, and faculty from the colleges, as well as sustaining an equity-minded perspective in the implementation effort. Her professional experiences include serving as the President-Elect for the Executive Board for the Chief Student Services Officer Association, a board member of the Latina Leadership Network for the California Community Colleges, member of the HERS Board of Directors, and co-founder of the newly formed COLEGAS for Latinx professionals in the California Community Colleges.

Dr. Garcia’s experience as an educator, social worker, adjunct faculty, and administrator have afforded her the opportunity to develop the leadership and community building skills needed to impact institutional change. She is committed to leading with integrity, from a student centered framework, and building collaborative relationships across instructional and student services divisions to meet the needs of students. Her experience as a first-generation college student, and as a student of color, informs her teaching and leadership lens. Dr. Garcia is grounded in the belief that pursuing higher education is an act of liberation, especially for historically minoritized communities.