(Santa Ana, CA) - Santa Ana College (SAC) has named Fernando Ortiz, Ph.D, as its new Dean of Academic Affairs.
Dr. Ortiz will provide leadership, administration and supervisory duties related to the Office of Academic Affairs, including management of enrollment, program review, international students, curriculum, catalog and schedule production, accreditation and the college’s Bachelor of Arts program. He will also manage key campus-wide initiatives including Guided Pathways, Dual Enrollment, and Student Equity.
As a member of SAC’s psychology faculty since 1997 and an adjunct faculty member since 1994, Ortiz has additionally served as the Department of Psychology Chair (2002-2004, 2006-2008, and 2012-2017) and Department of Ethnic Studies Chair (2004-2006 and 2008-2010). For the past year, he was in the role of Faculty Coordinator for SAC’s Guided Pathways program where he led the implementation of the program’s redesign, managed funding for program initiatives, participated in regional and statewide conferences, collaborated on multi-year plans and facilitated monthly committee meetings and cross-functional core team meetings.
An alumnus of SAC, Ortiz obtained his Associate of Arts in psychology before receiving a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and Master of Arts and doctorate in psychology from the University of California, Riverside. His graduate research focused on ethnic identity, resiliency, acculturation, Mexican American adolescents and methodology/statistics. At SAC, Ortiz is a trained advocate and ally for SAC’s Safe Spaces for LGBTQ students and students identified under AB 540 legislation, which allows access to in-state tuition rates for undocumented and other eligible students at California’s public colleges and universities.
Ortiz immigrated to the United States as a child after his mother crossed the border daily to work in San Diego. Once his family received their green cards, his parents moved them from Tijuana to Orange County. Ortiz and his wife live in Santa Ana and have four daughters. On weekends he can be found serving as a certified youth soccer coach and certified United States Soccer Federation (USSF) youth soccer referee.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, and provides invaluable workforce training and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
