Celebrating Leadership in Education: Dean Thomas Cruz-Soto

The National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC), an affiliated council of the American Association of Community Colleges, has dedicated 30 years to promoting the educational interests and success of the Hispanic community. The NCCHC emphasizes access, equity, and excellence for students and employees in community colleges.

Over the past three years, more than 170 NCCHC Leadership Fellows have advanced to executive-level administrative positions, including vice-chancellors and presidents. Among these distinguished leaders is Thomas A. Cruz-Soto, Jr., Ed.D., Dean of Student Services at Riverside City College. In 2022, he was selected as a fellow in the prestigious Dr. Ted Martinez Jr. NCCHC Leadership Development Program, which gathers highly qualified Latinx professionals committed to assuming increasingly responsible administrative roles in community colleges.

Since his fellowship, Thomas Cruz-Soto has taken on the vital role of mentor to new fellows, advocates, and practitioners in the field. Recently, from September 12-14, he and his colleague Ivan Pena, Dean of Student Services and Counseling at Crafton Hills College, presented on Restorative Justice Practices in Higher Education at a conference hosted at The Scott Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. Their session was well-attended and received excellent reviews, leading to invitations for future presentations at various community colleges in the region, including an opportunity in San Antonio, Texas.

Cruz-Soto's commitment to mentorship and advocacy is representative of the NCCHC's impact and highlights the importance of elevating Hispanic leaders in community colleges.