Avila holds degrees in Latino studies and business from Fresno State University
By Marty Cheek
Dr. Pedro Avila
Avila serves as the vice president, student services/assistant superintendent for Santa Rosa Junior College.
The Gavilan College Board of Trustees interviewed finalists for the position May 19 and announced its decision May 20. The employment agreement will be placed on the agenda for public review and approval consideration at the June 14 board meeting.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank all our community members, faculty and staff, for their engagement by submitting their questions and feedback,” said Edwin Diaz, Gavilan board president. “We are excited to select Dr. Pedro Avila.”
According to the Santa Rosa Junior College website, “Avila has worked in the community college system for 20 years and has led several successful initiatives to increase college-going rates for underrepresented student populations.
“He was born and spent his childhood in Guadalajara, Mexico. When he was nine in 1984, his family emigrated to the United States to find better opportunities. They worked as farmworkers, living in Castroville. Like many migrant families, they experienced poverty and housing insecurity hardships.”
Avila’s work is grounded in his experiences as an immigrant, English-language learner, and first-generation college student. His childhood experiences with poverty and housing insecurity shape his strong state-wide advocacy for affordable student housing. At San ta Rosa Junior College, he led the construction of an on-campus affordable student housing facility for 352 students.
As a housing champion, he has worked with nonprofit Generation Housing in Sonoma County. He understands from firsthand experience the challenges families face.
Avila holds degrees in Latino studies and business from Fresno State University, a masters in Business Administration from Rockhurst University and a certificate in institutional performance assessment from Harvard’s Higher Education Institute. He holds a doctorate in community college policy from the University of Maryland.
His administrative experience includes serving as Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, Admissions & Records, and Information Systems at State Center Community College District. At West Hills Community College District, he served as Vice President of Student Services and Vice-Chancellor of Institutional Effectiveness & Enrollment Management.
In his free time Avila enjoys bike riding, fishing, playing soccer, and hiking with his two daughters and wife, Jeanette Loaiza, who is also in the field of education.
To learn more about Dr. Pedro Avila, click here to visit a story published in The Oak Leaf.
