WHITTIER – Newly elected Río Hondo College Trustee Kristal Orozco says she will focus on strengthening the K-12 college pathway, enhancing job training and certification programs and driving improved student success during her first term.
Orozco, who was elected Nov. 3, will take the Oath of Office at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 along with re-elected Trustee Vicky Santana. Orozco represents Trustee Area 4, which spans Los Nietos, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier and North Norwalk.
“I’m honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve the Río Hondo College community,” Orozco said. “My own educational path started with community college and my sister is a proud Río Hondo College alumna.”
Orozco earned an associate degree at Pasadena City College, a Bachelor of Arts in history from Whittier College and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Loyola Marymount University. She works as a substitute teacher in the Montebello Unified School District.
She said her educational beliefs are grounded in her experience as a first-generation college student and the challenges she faced in finishing her degrees while starting a family. She underscored the need for colleges to provide services to support students as they pursue their goals, including counseling, mental health and social service navigation.
“Río Hondo College has a strong tradition of providing a host of student support services, and I look forward to joining the College’s innovative efforts to expand these services to ensure equity of access and success for all our students,” Orozco said.
Her platform includes boosting degree and certification numbers, graduates and transfers.
Orozco is the mother of two children, Roman, 6, and Ximena, 1. She resides in Santa Fe Springs.
PHOTO: Educator Kristal Orozco was elected Nov. 3 as Río Hondo College’s Area 4 Trustee.
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3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601
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RELEASE DATE: December 16, 2020
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