(Orange, CA) – Santiago Canyon College (SCC) has a new vice president of student services who began her new role on December 30, 2021. Dr. Melba Castro was appointed to SCC's leadership team following a vote by the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Board of Trustees earlier this month.
Castro is an established leader with 14 years of higher education leadership experience. She most recently served as the dean of student success at Rio Hondo College. There, Castro oversaw a wide range of student services, including programs that work to onboard students and support their success to completion. She previously served as director of educational partnerships at California State University, Fullerton and the director of academic success initiatives at the University of California, Riverside.
“I want to thank the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees, Chancellor Marvin Martinez and SCC President Dr. Pamela Ralston for their support and providing me the opportunity to be part of the Santiago Canyon College community and family," Castro said.
Ralston said Castro was the perfect fit for the college and has an established record of maintaining a high standard of academic excellence in her previous institutions.
“The SCC community is excited to welcome the new vice president for student services, Dr. Melba Castro, who is rooted in servant leadership, equity, and student success," Ralston said. “As an integral part of SCC's leadership team, Dr. Castro will ensure that students are provided with a holistic, educational experience that fosters their academic journey here at SCC and beyond."
Castro graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor of arts in political science, then earned a master of arts in education from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in educational policy studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Castro said her own experience as a first-generation college graduate showed her how life-changing higher education can be. She said she is "committed to paying it forward by providing opportunities for students, families and the community to actualize the dream of an education."
“I started helping my mother clean homes at the age of 10, which provided me with invaluable lessons," Castro said. "I understand the transformational opportunities that education provides and have dedicated my career to enhancing access, success, and equity. I am committed to providing students with opportunities to achieve their educational goals."
For more information on Dr. Melba Castro, please contact the SCC President's Office at (714) 628-4931.
