Nadia Leal-Carrillo

Nadia Leal-Carrillo, Director of Policy Development, Success Center

Nadia Leal Carrillo headshot

Areas of expertise:

  • Higher education research, policy, and advocacy
  • Strategic planning
  • Program management
  • Stakeholder engagement

Nadia Leal-Carrillo is the Director of Policy Development of the Success Center for California Community Colleges, housed within the Foundation. Founded in 2014, the Success Center assists the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) implementation of large-scale, systemwide student success reforms through policy development, professional development, and special projects. Leal-Carrillo leads the Success Center’s policy shop work in identifying statutory and regulatory barriers to student success and providing policy development and research support for the CCCCO on policies aligned with the Vision for Success: Strengthening the California Community Colleges to Meet California’s Needs goals, student success reforms, and the Guided Pathways framework.

Foundation Highlights:

  • Provides the Chancellor's Office with actionable and timely research and policy development support to inform and influence state-level policy changes related to student success and financial aid
  • Collaborating to establish the Student Centered Funding Formula and Student Equity and Achievement Program
  • Conducted regulatory and statutory background analyses for the CCCCO to support Title 5 regulatory changes on developmental education and placement reform and both academic and financial student support services
  • Developed a framework for policy change and produced policy briefs aimed at improving student success and implementing the Vision for Success

As a first-generation immigrant college graduate, Leal-Carrillo has dedicated her career to advancing policies to improve student access to education. She previously served as Legislative Director of Academic Affairs in the State Governmental Relations Office for the University of California, Office of the President; Legislative Director to Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny, Chair of the Senate Budget Committee; Legislative Aide to Senator Gilbert Cedillo, Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus; and as a California Senate Fellow. Leal-Carrillo was selected as a 2018-2019 California Education Policy Fellow and appointed to the 2018-2020 School Site Council. Leal-Carrillo is a member of the Sacramento Latina Leaders Network and the California Capital Fellows Alumni Association. She previously served as an appointed member of the City of Sacramento’s Citizens Advisory Committee for Redistricting and was the former co-chair of the California Latino Capitol Association.

Leal-Carrillo earned her bachelor of arts in urban studies and planning from the University of California, San Diego, where she was a McNair Scholar, and her master of public administration from the University of Southern California, where she was a Sterling Franklin Graduate Fellow.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-leal-carrillo-69b967183/

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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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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