Colleges’ Chief Faces Surging Enrollment

Edward Hernandez leads by example. He began his post-secondary education at a two-year college, and now has risen to become the first Latino chancellor at Rancho Santiago Community College District.

Hernandez, known as “Eddie” to his colleagues and even students, heads the 40,000-student, two-year school system, the fastest growing district in Orange County.

He said he brings his own experience to a district that is more than half Latino and is seen as crucial to helping Latinos gain a foothold in higher education.

“I’m proud of who I am and where I came from,” said Hernandez. “It provides for me a perspective of my students and it brings a positive force to the table.”

Before taking the district helm last week, Hernandez, 52, was the president of Santa Ana College, the district’s flagship campus.

Now as chancellor, he oversees a system that recently converted to a multi-college structure. Heading two college campuses in Orange and Santa Ana and six adult learning centers is a tall order, Hernandez said.

The student population shot up by 22% last year, and the figures are expected to climb at the already crowded campus.

More campus space will be freed up by moving the district office from Santa Ana College to an independent site by the fall, he said.

The district, like other community colleges also must provide more job training programs to help people cope with the effects of welfare reform, Hernandez said.

He anticipates that Rancho Santiago’s colleges and education centers will operate a wide range of training courses to help the poor move from welfare to jobs.

“We have the largest number of welfare recipients residing in our district,” Hernandez said, compared with other Orange County community college districts.

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Rancho Santiago campuses serve the Santa Ana, Orange, Garden Grove, Villa Park and Anaheim Hills areas, encompassing some of the most affluent and impoverished sections of Orange County, he said.

“We work with a diverse student population. As educators, we must provide the keys to help others open the door to success. Our mission also is to build economic development in our community.”

Despite his gentle demeanor, Hernandez is credited for aggressively creating partnerships between the colleges and local businesses.

During his eight years at the district, he established major grants, scholarships and apprenticeship programs to help students gain work experience.

He also brought in citizenship and social programs to help students make the transition from community college to the work force or four-year colleges.

“He did things to make education affordable,” said Art Montez, former president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which honored Hernandez with the Outstanding Hispanic Educator Award in 1994 for linking the colleges with businesses.

“In his quiet way, he does what he says. Making sure students are given the opportunity to apply what they learn in school to life.”

Hernandez succeeds Vivan Blevins, who resigned as chancellor after six years to return to teaching English at the district’s Santiago Canyon College in Orange.

He began his career in education almost 30 years ago as an elementary school counselor. He then taught history and social sciences at his alma mater, Pasadena City College.

In 1974, he became a college administrator at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, where he worked for 15 years. In 1989, he came to Rancho Santiago as its vice chancellor of student affairs.

Ever since he was a child, Hernandez said he knew he would dedicate his life to education.

“I love my work,” he said.

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Profile: Edward Hernandez

Position: First Latino chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District in its 26-year history; district runs two colleges and six adult education centers, serving about 40,000 students

Came to Rancho Santiago: 1989

Background: Worked as administrator at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut for 15 years; vice chancellor of student affairs at Rancho Santiago College; president of Santa Ana College, Rancho Santiago’s flagship campus

Education: Associate’s degree from Pasadena City College; bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cal State University Los Angeles; doctorate in community college administration from Nova Southeastern University (Florida)

Family: Wife of 30 years, two sons and a daughter

Residence: Anaheim Hills

What schools must do: “As educators, we must provide the keys to help others open the door to success. Our mission also is to build economic development in our community.”

Source: Edward Hernandez

Los Angeles Times