Carlos Lopez is always learning.

Now at the age of 51, the lifelong educator challenged himself by deciding to learn how to ice skate in his early 40s. Even after multiple falls, he kept getting back up.

Keeping up with younger, more experienced ice skaters takes tenacity, something the new Vice President of Academic Affairs knows about.

Born in Calexico, Lopez spent most of his life in the Coachella Valley and a little bit in Orange County. He attended the College of the Desert for two years.

“It’s kind of where I fell in love with the community college because if not for the College of the Desert, I wouldn’t be here today, so I’m grateful for the college,” Lopez said.

At College of the Desert, Lopez eventually discovered that he enjoyed tutoring his fellow students.

“It was kind of my first teaching [job] … I got to work as a tutor there, a math tutor,” Lopez said. “I really kind of liked teaching, I never thought I would.”

Lopez transferred from College of the Desert to UC San Diego, earning a degree in applied mathematics. Unfortunately, Lopez would have to return home from college to help his mother.

“My father passed away, and we had a small family business back in the Coachella Valley and so I had to go home and help my mom and the job I could get was working as a teacher,” Lopez said. “I taught at Palm Springs high school for a couple of years.”

Although he enjoyed his time at Palm Springs High School, Lopez soon realized he didn’t want to spend the rest of his career in a high school classroom.

Returning to graduate school at UC Riverside, Lopez studied statistics not long after he began to teach part-time at a community college in Moreno Valley.

“Again, I was reminded how cool it was to work at a place where you know students like me, from places where I grew up,” Lopez said. “[I] had an opportunity to improve their place of work.”

Lopez decided to apply for full-time teaching positions at Mt. San Jacinto College and got it.

Lopez would continue to fill many positions at different colleges, including Dean of Instruction at MiraCosta College, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Santa Ana College and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Moreno Valley College.

When a position opened up at El Camino College, and after doing some research, Lopez jumped at the opportunity, officially landing the role on August 1.

Visitors to the Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs office will be greeted warmly by Lopez, but even before you see him, you’ll also get a sense of the man sitting behind the desk.

Lopez likes to advertise his friendly personality, from the noticeable Lego calendar on his desk to the artwork hung on the wall.

While he is still new to the role, Lopez has nothing but praise for El Camino and its faculty and staff.

“So far, it has been (great). I have been here seven weeks,” Lopez said, “It has been exciting … in that really cool kind of energizing way.”

Since he was hired, Lopez has been quite complimentary of El Camino’s exceptional quality and variety of faculty.

“We have industry professionals that teach [here],” Lopez said, pointing out the quality of teaching available at El Camino College.

Kerri Webb, Director of Public Information and Government Relations, works closely with both the college president and vice president.

“He’s very responsive. It’s been my experience he literally hit the ground running. On day one, since he first got here, he got right to work. He’s amazing,” Webb said.

Lavonne Plum, the vice president’s assistant, said that she and Lopez are still getting to know each other due to their short time on the job.

“We’re still learning how to work together. Things have gone very well so far, to my knowledge,” Plum said. “He’s pretty straightforward, he’s very knowledgeable,” Plum said.

Community colleges have played a significant role in shaping Lopez’s life, and with his new position at El Camino, they will continue to be a focus in his future.

Editor’s Note: Oct. 4, 2022. 10:51 p.m. – Paragraph 20 and the quote in paragraph 21 were adjusted for clarity and accuracy.