May 13, 2024
As communities across the country recently marked national Community College month, one California community college system leader is leading the charge in Orange County. Eloy Ortiz Oakley is the newly appointed co-chair of the UCI-OC Alliance, an initiative established in 2021 to support UC Irvine as a Hispanic-thriving university. Oakley’s personal journey truly demonstrates the power and potential of community colleges.
Oakley began his educational pursuits at Golden West College, a community college in Huntington Beach. Later, he transferred to UC Irvine where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Analysis and Design and a Master of Business Administration.
From 2016 to 2022, Oakley served as chancellor of the California Community Colleges (CCC), the country’s largest higher education system. In that role, he championed initiatives to enhance student access, success, equity and inclusion. His tenure was marked by a dedication to breaking down educational barriers and fostering innovation.
Today, Oakley serves as CEO of the College Futures Foundation, an organization committed to catalyzing systemic change in higher education. Priorities include promoting equity and increasing graduation rates for California’s underrepresented, low-income college students. This role aligns with Oakley’s lifelong commitment to education equity.
“The role of community colleges in the economic success of the people and communities of Orange County is critical. I am proud to see that UC Irvine recognizes the importance of community colleges and is opening the door to the diverse and talented students that transfer from our community colleges and help make the university a hub of innovation and inclusivity,” Oakley shares.
Oakley has also established ties with the University of California (UC) system. He is a regent emeritus, a UC Irvine trustee, and now the co-chair of the UCI-OC Alliance. At UC Irvine, nearly a third of transfer students identify as Latino/a.
The first of its kind, the UCI-OC Alliance is a trustee-guided, university-driven community organization. It is dedicated to enhancing the experience of UCI’s Latino/a students by fostering a sense of belonging, inclusion and access to opportunities like mentoring and paid internships.
Alliance members—business and community leaders—become role models. They engage with a variety of UC Irvine programs and initiatives designed to benefit Latino/a populations, including high-impact research projects. Many of these programs and initiatives serve as magnets for potential UCI trustees committed to both UCI and Latino/a students. The Alliance’s recent accomplishments include support for 48 scholarships for students who demonstrate their commitment (both on and off campus) to research, leadership roles or volunteerism geared toward the Latino/a community. The Alliance has also sponsored the creation of the university’s online guide to Latinx resources. The searchable database connects students, employers and community stakeholders with meaningful leadership and involvement opportunities.
With his unique experience and background, Oakley is well positioned to be a crucial advocate for the Alliance. His work epitomizes the bridge between two critical segments of California’s higher education landscape—community colleges and four-year institutions. While committed to establishing efficient pathways for transfer students, Oakley embraces a holistic approach that supports students throughout their educational journey, from community college enrollment to university graduation and workforce readiness.
Community College Month presents an opportunity to recognize leaders like Oakley, to reflect on the progress they and their colleagues have made and to identify the work that remains for everyone who believes that all students, regardless of their starting point, should have access to and can thrive within higher education pathways.
