About Mary

Community college changed the course of my life.

At 37, I enrolled at Southwestern Community College as a divorced, single mother raising two daughters. With only a high school diploma and limited job skills, returning to school was intimidating. But Southwestern gave me an affordable, accessible path forward—and a community that believed in my potential.

I earned my associate degree at Southwestern and transferred to San Diego State University, where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Sociology. That education opened doors for my family and ultimately gave me the opportunity to serve the community I call home.

I went on to serve as Mayor of Chula Vista and later on the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, working to expand educational opportunities for students across our state.

I know what Southwestern can make possible because I lived it. I am committed to ensuring students today have access to the same opportunities: an affordable, high-quality education, strong transfer pathways, and career training that prepares them for the jobs of tomorrow.

Southwestern changed my life. Now, I want to help strengthen that opportunity for the next generation.