The Compton College academic community applauds the appointment of California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley to the Biden administration in a temporary role to provide advice on higher education policy.
Oakley’s new assignment as a special adviser to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona began on July 26 and runs through the fall. Deputy Chancellor Dr. Daisy Gonzales will serve as acting chancellor of the California Community Colleges, overseeing policy, fiscal and advocacy matters for the 116-college system that serves 2.1 million students.
“On behalf of Compton College, I congratulate Chancellor Oakley on his temporary assignment, where he will continue his work as an advocate for education and community college students on a national level,” said Compton Community College District Board President Sonia Lopez. “We also fully support Deputy Chancellor Gonzales in her new position and have complete confidence in her leadership and ability to continue to advance the system’s Vision for Success. Dr. Gonzales is a proven leader in improving higher education opportunities for all and she will continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and families.”
Compton College and California’s community colleges continue to show progress toward meeting goals of the Vision for Success, which sets a path to increase certificate and degree attainment, improve transfer, and close equity gaps. This approach, coupled with hard work at the colleges, has resulted in far-reaching impacts throughout the state and the nation.
Oakley has overseen the California Community Colleges since 2016 and has helped lead transformational changes that place equity and student success squarely at the front of every decision affecting the colleges. Prior to becoming state chancellor, Oakley served as president/superintendent of the Long Beach Community College District.
Gonzales is uniquely qualified to serve as acting chancellor, having overseen operational and strategic policy planning for the Chancellor’s Office since 2017. A fearless advocate for students, Gonzales is a former Aspen Institute presidential fellow who leads the system’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, serves on the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and was selected woman of the year by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis in 2021. She holds a master’s and doctorate in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
