Women Appointed to Lead Three Community Colleges in the Western United States

Angelica Suarez was appointed president of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, effective July 1. The college enrolls more than 22,000 students. Women make up slightly less than half the student body, according to the latest data supplied to the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Suarez has been serving as vice president of academic affairs at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California. Early in her career, she served on the faculty at Wright College in Chicago. A native of Mexico, Dr. Suarez came to the United States at the age of 3. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Suarez earned a Ph.D. at Loyola University in Chicago.

Monica Torres was named president of Dona Ana Community College at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. The college enrolls 8,000 students. Women are 58 percent of the student body.

Torres has served as interim president since the beginning of the academic year. Earlier she was vice president for academic affairs at the college. Dr. Torres has also served as chair of the English department at the college. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from New Mexico State University and a Ph.D. in American studies from the University of New Mexico.

Kim Hoffmans will be the next president of Ventura College in California, effective June 1. The college enrolls more than 13,000 students. Women make up 55 percent of the student body.

Dr. Hoffmans has worked for the Ventura County Community College District for the past quarter century, most recently as vice president for academic affairs at Ventura College. She has taught nursing and was dean at Moorpark College. Dr. Hoffmans is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in nursing. She holds a master’s degree in nursing from Texas Woman’s University and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from California Lutheran University.