Sierra College Welcomes Anabel Toche as Executive Dean of Student Equity and Completion

New Executive Dean to Champion Student Success and Equity initiatives

ROCKLIN, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sierra College is proud to announce the appointment of Anabel Toche as the new Executive Dean of Student Equity and Completion. In this role, Toche will lead initiatives to ensure all students have equal opportunities to succeed and graduate.
"We are thrilled to welcome Anabel Toche to Sierra College," said Willy Duncan, Sierra College Superintendent/President. "Her extensive experience and deep commitment to equity align seamlessly with our mission of fostering a culture of belonging and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. We look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our college community."

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Anabel Toche is a dedicated advocate for equity and student success. Most recently, Toche served as the Dean of Student Success, Institutional Effectiveness at Yuba College. As a Latina and a first-generation college graduate from a low-income immigrant family, she brings a unique and valuable perspective to this leadership role. Anabel holds a bachelor's degree in leadership studies from Cal Poly Humboldt and an MBA from Southern Oregon University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at UC Davis.
As the Executive Dean of Student Equity and Completion, Toche will work with campus and community partners to create an inclusive environment that supports Sierra College's diverse student population while implementing strategies to help students achieve their educational goals more efficiently.

"I am honored to join Sierra College and excited to work alongside dedicated faculty, staff, students, and the campus community to advance equity and student success initiatives," said Toche. "I look forward to building on Sierra College's strong foundation and collaborating with the campus community and the broader community to foster a culture where students feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their educational goals."

Throughout her distinguished career, Toche has demonstrated a profound commitment to creating transformative student success programs. Her extensive experience includes overseeing initiatives such as EOPS/CARE/NextUp, CalWORKs, TRIO programs, MESA, and the Puente Project. She has also championed efforts supporting LGBTQ+, DREAMer, and AANHPI students, consistently prioritizing holistic student support, culturally responsive practices, and the dismantling of systemic barriers to equity and access.

"Anabel's leadership philosophy, 'Think Student and Then Decide,' underscores her student-centered approach to decision-making," said Duncan. "Her collaborative work with faculty, institutional research teams, and campus stakeholders has yielded measurable outcomes in closing equity gaps and enhancing student engagement. Additionally, her expertise in budget management and program assessment has been instrumental in driving sustainable, impactful change." 

About Sierra College

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu.

SOURCE Sierra College