January 14, 2022
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley announced today the permanent appointment of Dr. Valerie Lundy-Wagner as vice chancellor of the Digital Innovation and Infrastructure Division after serving as the division’s interim leader.
As vice chancellor, Lundy-Wagner will continue to oversee technology and research for the California Community Colleges, and lead a variety of internal and external initiatives overseeing information technology systems, implementation of systemwide technology investments, and application of research into evidence-based policy.
“Dr. Lundy-Wagner has demonstrated to be an effective and innovative leader committed to achieving the system’s Vision for Success,” said Chancellor Oakley. “As we continue to press forward with our critical mission to eliminate equity gaps, increase enrollment and transfers rates, and boost the numbers of those earning certificates and degrees via Guided Pathways, we are confident she will continue to play a significant guiding role for the benefit of our students.”
The Digital Innovation and Infrastructure Division is at the forefront of the equitable technology-based across the California Community Colleges. Its mission is to improve the experience and outcomes for California’s community college students by:
- Delivering technology-focused initiatives
- Delivering high-quality information technology services
- Shepherding innovative practices
The Digital Innovation and Infrastructure Division plays an instrumental role in manifesting the Chancellor’s Office Vision for Success. The implementation of equitable, innovative, comprehensive, and student-centric technologies are critical factors for the recruitment, retention, and academic and career advancement of students attending a California community college.
Lundy-Wagner joined the Chancellor's Office in February 2020, and has served as interim vice chancellor of the Digital Innovation and Infrastructure Division as well as assistant vice chancellor for Research and Data.
Lundy-Wagner is a nationally recognized leader on equity in higher education, including how it connects to K-12 and workforce development. A former assistant professor and faculty fellow at New York University, Lundy-Wagner has also worked at the Community College Research Center, the leading authority on community college research and reform, Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit focused on education, workforce development and economic mobility, and California Competes, a policy research and advocacy organization. In each post she has relentlessly pursued work prioritizing equity for postsecondary students and the institutions that serve them.
A Richmond, California, native, Lundy-Wagner earned her bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at UCLA, her master’s degree in education at Stanford University and her Ph.D. in higher education at the University of Pennsylvania. She also was a postdoctoral scholar in engineering education at Purdue University.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; degree and certificate pathways; and basic skills education in English and math. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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