Dr. Christopher Villa

After an extensive nationwide search, the Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Christopher Villa as the college’s seventh president. The board voted unanimously in support of Villa.

“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Villa to Skagit Valley College,” said Board Chair Flora Perez-Lucatero. “He brings a wealth of experience and commitment to the community college mission. We are looking forward to his leadership in continuing the vision for the college.”

Villa is an experienced community college leader who most recently served as president at Portland Community College (PCC)-Rock Creek. He has served an accumulated 12 years as vice president of student services for Los Angeles Mission College, Fresno City College, and Long Beach City College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social ecology from University of California, Irvine, a master’s degree in public administration from University of Southern California, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from University of Utah. Villa has also served as an adjunct faculty in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department at California State University, Northridge.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected as the next president of Skagit Valley College,” said Dr. Villa. “I’m eager to serve the communities of Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties while advancing the college’s core themes of equity in access, achievement, and community. I look forward to furthering SVC’s unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in support of the success of all of our students.”

As a strong student advocate, he led efforts to improve student outcomes and close opportunity gaps through the Yes to Equitable Student Success (YESS) Initiative, an equity-minded framework grounded in cultural competency and strategic programming. As an equity advocate, Dr. Villa was appointed to the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission Equity Leadership Council, a group of educational leaders who advocate to increase equity in higher education and are experienced in policy development and implementation of equity programs that close equity disparities.

To read Villa’s full bio, go to skagit.edu/presidential-search.