Dr. Isabel de los Angeles O’Connor, Vice President of Instruction at San Diego Mesa College and President of the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers, has been named the 2025–2026 recipient of the Carter Doran Award.
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April 20, 2026
Dr. Isabel de los Angeles O’Connor, Vice President of Instruction at San Diego Mesa College and President of the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers, has been named the 2025–2026 recipient of the Carter Doran Award.
Each year, the CCCCIO Board presents the Carter Doran Award to an outstanding Chief Instructional Officer who demonstrates leadership from the heart, creativity, sustained commitment to instructional challenges, and a lasting impact on a college and/or professional organization.
Dr. O’Connor was selected in recognition of her leadership within the California Community Colleges system and her contributions to statewide instructional initiatives and CIO professional practice.
Her work has included significant service to systemwide academic and instructional efforts, including participation in the Common Course Numbering initiative through both early taskforce engagement and continued service in leadership structures supporting implementation efforts designed to improve student mobility and success across colleges.
“Dr. Isabel de los Angeles O’Connor is a transformational leader whose influence extends across California. From advancing common course numbering to strengthening our baccalaureate pathways, she has helped shape a more coherent, equitable system for all students,” said Dr. Ashanti T. Hands, President of San Diego Mesa College.
In addition to her policy and instructional leadership, Dr. O’Connor’s impact extends through her service within the CCCCIO organization. After serving as President-Elect, she stepped into the role of President earlier than planned, providing continuity and steady leadership for the Board during a period of transition and ongoing statewide collaboration.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Dr. O’Connor. “I am deeply passionate about my work as a Chief Instructional Officer and the opportunity it provides to support students, faculty, and colleagues in advancing equitable student success across our system.”
Dr. O’Connor has served as Vice President of Instruction at Mesa College for several years following a long career in higher education leadership. Her statewide engagement includes service within the CCCCIO Board and participation in systemwide governance and instructional committees supporting academic quality and shared governance.
Colleagues across the system recognize her for her steady leadership, thoughtful inquiry, and ability to support collaborative decision-making in complex statewide conversations. Her contributions have helped advance instructional alignment efforts and strengthen professional collaboration among California’s Chief Instructional Officers.
Dr. O’Connor’s recognition reflects her sustained commitment to the CIO profession and her broader impact on instructional leadership across the California Community Colleges system.
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Anabell Pulido
Public Information Officer
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Dr. Isabel de los Angeles O’Connor, Vice President of Instruction at San Diego Mesa College and President of the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers, has been named the 2025–2026 recipient of the Carter Doran Award.
San Diego, CA — San Diego Mesa College has been selected as one of eight institutions to receive funding through the College Futures Foundation’s Unlocking Economic Mobility for Adult Learners initiative. Mesa was chosen from a highly competitive pool of 223 applicants, recognizing the college’s commitment to advancing equitable outcomes for working adult learners.
San Diego Mesa College student Declan Mulvany has been accepted into the highly competitive Scripps Research Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, a 10-week internship offering hands-on experience in world-class laboratories.
