About

Manuel Baca is Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Management, and Business Law at Rio Hondo College and Lecturer of Higher Education (EdD Program) for the Charter College of Education at California State University, Los Angeles. As a long-time resident of the San Gabriel Valley, he has been a member of and worked with numerous civic organizations. He is an alum of Rio Hondo College, California State University, Fullerton, and the University of Southern California (where he earned a PhD). His military service was with the United States Marine Corps, receiving an Honorable Discharge (Sergeant E-5). He has held leadership roles with the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, Mt. SAC, the Foundation for California Community Colleges, Rio Hondo College, civic organizations, and community-based, non-profits.

Elected and Appointed Positions:
  • Chair (2013-2015) & Governor’s (Schwarzenegger and Brown) Appointed Member (2009-2015), California Community Colleges (CCC) Board of Governors
  • Appointed Member (current), Advisory Board, Wheelhouse Center of Community College Leadership & Research, University of California, Davis
  • Appointed Member, California Community Colleges Student Success Task Force (led to Student Success Act of 2012, SB 1456)
  • Appointed Member (2012-2018), Oversight Board to the Successor of the Former Community Development Commission of the City of La Puente (Supervisor Gloria Molina and Supervisor Hilda Solis appointee)
  • Appointed Member (2005 & 2015), California Community Colleges Strategic Planning Committee (CCC Board of Governors & System Chancellor appointee)

Service (current & selected previous):
  • Chair (2018-2020) & Member (current), Executive Board of Directors, Foundation for California Community Colleges
  • Founder (with Bobby MacDonald, Vietnam vet & member, Buffalo Soldiers) & current Advisor, California Community Colleges Veterans Symposium
  • Founder & Committee Member (current), Kepler Distinguished Lecture Series and Scholarship Fund (serving Mt. SAC, Walnut USD, & Pomona USD students)
  • Literary Judge (current), International Latino Book Awards, Latino Print Network
  • Past President & Member (current), Kiwanis Club of Walnut Valley (serving Walnut, Pomona, and Rowland Heights)
  • Member, Military Academies (West Point, Naval, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine) Appointments Advisory Committee, Congresswoman Hilda Solis and Congresswoman Judy Chu
  • Ex-Officio Member, Mt. San Antonio Community College Foundation
  • Executive Committee Member, Boys & Girls Clubs of Rio Hondo (Bell Gardens) & Los Angeles
  • Executive Committee Member, Rio Hondo Symphony (Whittier)
  • Charter Member, Chinese American Museum, Los Angeles
  • Mentor, California Partnership Academy, El Monte Union High School District
  • Mentor, Puente Program, Cypress College
  • Member, Planetary Society
Selected Recognitions:
  • 2020 Fulfilling the Trust Award – Community College League of California
  • Leadership Resolution/Commendation (2015) – Board of Governors (President Geoffrey Baum) & Chancellor (Brice Harris) of the California Community Colleges
  • Service to Veterans Award – California Community Colleges Chancellor (Jack Scott)
  • Fellow of the College (permanent recognition, awarded 2010) – Rio Hondo Community College District
  • Award (Fifty Successful Alumni, Querer es Poder) – California State University, Fullerton
  • Alumni of the Year, Rio Hondo College
  • Honorary Referee (two time), Mt. SAC Relays
Achievements:
  • While a trustee, Mt. SAC has maintained sound fiscal management, including during the period of Great Recession, with no staff layoffs, responsible budget reductions (when needed), and while protecting programs and services for first generation, low-income students.
  • Led oversight of construction projects (successfully passed construction bonds) which have transformed Mt. SAC’s physical plant into a leading and admired 21st Century campus.  Projects have, overall, been completed on time and within budget while achieving high environmental and labor standards/goals.
  • Founded the Kepler Distinguished Lecture Series and Student Scholarship Awards which annually brings some of the world’s leading planetary scientists to Mt. SAC, while recognizing (through exhibits and scholarships) the achievements of students pursuing degrees and careers in the sciences and in teaching. 
  • Mt. SAC has grown in status as one of the leading community colleges in the country.  Its state, national, and international awards and recognitions includes those earned by our students and faculty in music (Chamber Singers), the arts, athletics/sports, robotics, forensics, aeronautics, and many other academic and extracurricular programs.
  • Mt. SAC has been recognized as a state leader in addressing student success and access goals via such programs as Guided Pathways, the Vision for Success, curricular innovations, among others.  In particular, protection of Dreamers (Dream Program and legal arguments), gender/equity (women, LBGTQ), first generation, low-income, and racial equity.  In addition, Mt. SAC’s  services and facilities to serve our student veterans was established as a high priority and the Mt. SAC Veterans Resource Center and services are now recognized as models.
  • As a governor of the California Community Colleges (CCC) Board of Governors (BOG) and Co-Chair of the Veterans Committee, founded the Veterans Annual Symposium.  This established a network among community college service providers and their counterparts in government, the California State University, the University of California, and non-profits serving veterans.
  • As a governor of the CCC BOG and Co-Chair of the Veterans Committee ensured funding and direction for an increase of CCC veterans resource centers from approximately eight (8) in 2009 to more than ninety (90) statewide currently.
  • As member (since 2015) & immediate past Chair of the Foundation for California Community Colleges, in working with the CEO and fellow board members, have overseen a rapid growth in funding and service delivery.  It’s reach, in supporting the Chancellor for the California Community Colleges and the CCC system, is extensive and increasing annually.
  • As trustee, governor of the CCC, and foundation board director, have worked with colleagues to ensure that experienced and competent personnel have been hired or appointed to lead and operate the organizations, as well as reflect the communities.

Vision/Platform:
  • Very importantly, ensure the safe and organized reopening of the Mt. SAC campus, once it is deemed safe to do so by national, state, and local Covid-19 experts.  The safety of our students, faculty and staff must be of the highest priority.
  • Manage effectively and equitably, during the coming year, the budgetary challenges presented by the Covid-19 Pandemic.  A need for experienced leadership on the trustee board is as essential, if not more so, as it was during the period of the Great Recession.
  • Continue to maintain the high degree of excellence in construction as we move forward with our Measure Go projects.  This includes working collaboratively with our community partners in construction and labor.
  • Assure that the integrity and functionality of our core programs and services are maintained and evolve further to address student success and access.  The combination of academic delivery and corresponding support services demands active and insightful leadership at all levels of the organization, especially on the board and executive levels.
  • In this era of Black Lives Matter and racial division, it is more critical than ever to examine, reflect, and change those institutionalized barriers which limit marginalize students and groups from fully realizing their full academic, career, and life potential.  A college community must embrace the challenges beginning with policies which establish the expected goals.