January 24, 2022
Contact: Paul Feist
Office: 916-327-5353
Office E-mail: pfeist@cccco.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley announced today the appointment of Sandra Sanchez as interim vice chancellor of the Workforce and Economic Development Division after serving as the division’s assistant vice chancellor.
As interim vice chancellor, Sanchez will continue to be responsible for managing workforce programs, including those focusing on adult education, partnerships with K-12, apprenticeship, entrepreneurial development, nursing and allied health as well as other areas critical to California’s economy.
“I am pleased to welcome Sandra Sanchez into this important role,” Oakley said. “Her leadership and experience come with a strong commitment to improving student outcomes. She is the right pick to lead develop and strengthen programs that help colleges prepare students for a better future through career education.”
The Workforce and Economic Development Division is focused on preparing California community college students and individuals with flexible and manageable workforce training and career pathways that result in high-skill and high-wage employment.
The division is part of the newly created office of educational services and support, and its key responsibilities are to:
- Administer approximately $1 billion in funding for colleges – to prepare students to be work ready, world ready, and for the future of work
- Ensure colleges are providing skills and competencies to students that are in demand in the job market, reskilling and upskilling to close skills gaps, and providing the opportunity for students to engage and thrive in the new digital economy
- Connect workforce and economic development (supplying the talent and supporting job creators)
Sanchez joined the Chancellor’s Office in October 2019, and has served as assistant vice chancellor of the Workforce and Economic Development Division.
Sanchez is an experienced strategist, visionary, groundbreaking and student-centered education leader. A former dean of Academic Affairs and dean of Economic & Workforce Development at Los Angeles Harbor College for eight years, she led workforce education and educational programs leading to certificates and degrees. Over the past two decades, Sanchez has held management positions at three of California’s largest community college districts: Los Angeles Community College District, Santa Monica College and Long Beach City College. She has successfully managed adult education, continuing education, virtual education, emeritus education, corporate/customized training and Intergovernmental agreements at every institution she has served. Sanchez remains continuously committed to developing accessible, affordable, quality education and life learning programs for nontraditional students and adult populations. She is most proud of her efforts to assist underserved populations, first generation college students, and other diverse populations needing support and college transition, retention and workplace opportunities.
A native of Southern California, Sanchez earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from CSU Long Beach, and a MBA from the University of Redlands.
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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