Iris Aguilar

Iris Aguilar, Senior Director, Equity and Community Impact

Iris Aguilar headshot

Areas of expertise:

  • Strategic leadership and planning
  • Business development
  • Community outreach and engagement
  • Program and systems management
  • Employee development

Iris Aguilar is Senior Director, Equity and Community Impact at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. California Community Colleges, their students, and surrounding communities benefit from Aguilar’s keen leadership of programs to improve equity, student services, and the environment, and her holistic support for disadvantaged groups through community outreach; student leadership training; and implementation of other special projects.

Aguilar joined the Foundation as a student assistant in 2004 and has served in several capacities in student services, workforce development, community outreach, and environmental programs. As the Foundation’s former Director of Community Impact, Aguilar and her team significantly expanded partnerships and implemented effective statewide awareness campaigns, leading to her appointment as Senior Director in 2018.

Foundation Highlights:

  • Spearheads the California Community College Dreamers Project, a collaborative, systemwide project to nimbly respond to the needs of undocumented community college students through research, planning, and project implementation
  • Active member of the Environmental Equity Advocacy Group, which is developing tools for low-income and disadvantaged communities related to environmentally-friendly transportation options
  • Launched the Student Ambassador Program to increase a wide range of student and family resources across the state
  • Dedicated more than 15 years of service to the California Community College system

Aguilar earned her bachelor of arts in Chicano/Latino Studies, Native American Studies, and Spanish from the University of California, Davis.

Programs and Services

Beth Kay
Director of Professional Development, Success Center

Jodi Lewis
Director of Policy Development, Success Center

Nadia Leal-Carrillo
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Success Center

Tim Aldinger
Executive Director, Workforce Development

Iris Aguilar
Senior Director, Equity and Community Impact

Jeffrey Clary
Senior Director, Climate Strategies

Shirley Singh
Director of Facilities, Systems and Services

Jennifer Keiper
Senior Director of CollegeBuys

Strategic Support

Barbara Webster-Hawkins
Executive Director, Resource Development

Emily Robinson
Technology and Special Projects Director

Jodi Samuels
Director of Strategic Support for Colleges and Scholars

Steve Maciel
Director of Finance and Accounting

John O'Sullivan
Director, Systems and Special Projects

Cristina Herrick
Director of Financial Planning and Analysis

Foundation for California
Community Colleges

1102 Q Street, Suite 4800
Sacramento, CA 95811

Toll Free: 866.325.3222
Fax: 916.325.0844

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Supporting our Work

Help the Foundation further its mission to benefit, support, and enhance the California Community Colleges.

The Foundation for California Community Colleges is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 68-0412350).

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Who we serve

The Foundation serves as the official foundation supporting the Board of Governors, Chancellor’s Office, and the entire California Community College system, including 116 colleges and 73 districts, serving nearly 2 million students.

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