DR. ANGELICA LOERA SUAREZ, PRESIDENT, ORANGE COAST COLLEGE, COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
Dr. Angelica Suarez has served as the 11th President of Orange Coast College since July 2019. She leads one of Orange County's premier community colleges, where more than 20,000 students each year pursue transfer, career education, workforce training, and a broad range of educational opportunities. Since its founding in 1947, Orange Coast College has earned a reputation for academic excellence, innovation, and strong student outcomes.
A higher education leader with more than two decades of executive experience in the California Community Colleges, Dr. Suarez is committed to expanding educational opportunity, strengthening business and community partnerships, and preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving workforce. Prior to joining Orange Coast College, she served as Assistant Superintendent/Vice President for Student Affairs at the Southwestern Community College District in San Diego County.
Dr. Suarez is actively engaged in advancing higher education through service on statewide and regional boards and organizations. She currently serves on the boards of the California Colleges for International Education (CCIE), the California Community Colleges Chief Executive Officers Board, and the Orange County Regional Consortium Governance Council. She has also served on the boards of the California Community College Athletic Association and Girls Inc. of Orange County, reflecting her longstanding commitment to student success, educational excellence, and community engagement. Her leadership has been recognized nationally, including receiving the President's Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
Dr. Suarez’s journey, having immigrated to the United States, learning English, and becoming a first-generation college student, reflects resilience, perseverance, and determination. Her story connects her directly to the shared experiences of many California community college students. Having experienced the community college system as a student, classified professional, faculty member, and administrator, she brings a unique perspective that informs her leadership and strengthens her commitment to student success.
Dr. Suarez earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach, and an Associate of Arts 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).