Dr. Ivan Peña Joins CHC Student Services Team
Publish Date: Sept. 21, 2021
Crafton Hills College welcomes a new Dean of Student Equity and Success, Dr. Ivan Peña. The former Dean of Student Equity and Success at Merced College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants following an exhaustive nation- wide search. He began his position at Crafton effective July 19, 2021.
As the Dean of Student Equity and Success, he will provide leadership to all CHC counseling services, help support categorical programs and continue to lead the implementation of the College’s equity plan.
Dr. Peña has over eighteen years of experience working in higher education. For the past ten years he has served in administrative roles. He has worked at various higher education institutions including Merced College; Mt. San Antonio College; California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; and California State University, Fullerton.
Dr. Peña has attended all three segments of California’s public higher education system. Beginning at Mt. San Antonio College, Dr. Peña transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received his bachelor’s degree. He later went on to complete his master’s degree from the California State University, Los Angeles, and in 2017 completed his doctorate at the University of California, Los Angeles. His passion lies in working with underserved communities to help them reach their educational goals.
As a first-generation college student and community college alumnus, Dr. Peña understands the positive impact education can have on students. He leads with a passion for equity, racial and social justice and has a deep commitment to making Crafton Hills College the college of choice for our local service area.
As the dean of student equity and success, he is excited to lead a team that can provide our most underserved student populations with the opportunity to realize their educational and professional dreams.
“In my short time at Crafton Hills College, I have witnessed the passion and commitment of our faculty and staff, and their dedication toward student success. I am excited to join an educational community that has an excellent reputation for student centered approaches for learning across the Inland Empire.”
In his free time, Ivan enjoys spending time with his wife Michelle, his two-year-old son Roque and four-month-old daughter Avelina. Ivan and his family are originally from Southern California and glad to be back home in the Inland Empire, where their extended family and support network also resides.
Delmy Spencer, vice president for student services, thanks the search committee for its hard work and commitment to finding an outstanding person for the new position. “Dr. Peña is a caring, community-minded person who thinks strategically about his work,” she said. “He cares profoundly about students and equity. We are excited to welcome him to the campus community.”
