About Napa Valley College

Dedicated to educational excellence and student success since opening in 1942, Napa Valley College has a rich tradition of educating generations of Napa Valley residents. In addition, the college’s state-of-the-art facilities attract students from a wide geographic area who want to take advantage of programs not offered elsewhere in the region.

At Napa Valley College students can continue their education, prepare for transfer to a four-year college or university, train for a new career, upgrade current job skills or take classes for personal enrichment.

The citizens of Napa County made a clear commitment to higher education in 1941 when they passed a bond issue to establish Napa Junior College. One year later, Napa Junior College was founded as part of the Napa Union High School District. The first year of World War II marked the college’s first class—of just 16 students—only one of whom was male.

Once the war was over, GIs flooded into the new college seeking educational opportunity. During 1948-49, a modern new college was built next to the high school.

The community reaffirmed its commitment to the local college in 1962 by passing a bond issue to buy land and build a new college campus on land previously occupied by the Napa State Hospital. After 23 years, the college had its own campus, its own school district, and an enrollment of 1,771 students. It renamed itself Napa College and continued to grow its student body on the site it continues to occupy to this day.

In 1982, Napa College changed its name to Napa Valley College. The official opening of a permanent Upper Valley Campus in St. Helena in the fall of 1994 brought educational opportunities closer to home for upper valley residents and added new dimensions to the college curriculum. As of 2017, the college now serves over 9,000 students.

Mission and Values

Napa Valley College, as part of the California Community College System, provides open access to higher education.

Mission

Napa Valley College transforms lives. Whether your goal is to transfer, to pursue a career, or to explore your interests, Napa Valley College provides excellent educational and professional opportunities that are student-centered¹, equity-focused², and community-oriented³.

Vision

Napa Valley College cultivates a learning environment grounded in equity, inclusion, and empowerment.

Values

Napa Valley College is a community of learners that strive to grow, teach, model, and emulate the following values in ourselves and in our students.

Integrity: We treat each other ethically and foster an environment of trust.

Accountability: We commit to ensuring that our actions align with our words and recognize the importance of clear expectations and follow-through that is timely and clearly communicated.

Respect: We recognize each other’s humanity, demonstrate consideration for others, and connect through active listening and sharing perspectives to achieve common goals.

Inclusion: We embrace the power of diverse peoples, perspectives, and experiences. We commit to creating a flexible and responsive environment where everyone can thrive and learn.

Equity-Mindedness: We commit to being evidence-based, race-conscious, institutionally focused, systemically aware, and equity advancing⁴.

Social Justice: We commit to being anti-racist and dismantling systemic injustices to ensure access to resources and opportunities necessary for success.

Sustainability: We pledge to center sustainability by recognizing the interconnectedness of a healthy ecological environment, upholding universal human rights, and equitable stewardship of economic resources, all of which are necessary to the wellbeing of current and future generations.

1. Student-Centered: continuously improve the student experience by providing wrap-around support services and an environment which promotes the success of all students in achieving their educational goals
2. Equity-Focused: maintain open access to higher education for all students and address performance gaps in outcomes among disproportionately impacted students
3. Community-Oriented: foster a sense of belonging on campus, while also building connections with our larger community
4. The equity-mindedness value describes an approach to help achieve the college vision and is drawn from the research of Estela Mara Bensimon and the University of Southern California Center for Urban Education. The equity-focused environment of Napa Valley College focuses specifically on access and outcomes for students.

Institutional Learning Outcomes/General Education Learning Outcomes

1. Communication and Critical Thinking

• Create and communicate thoughts, ideas, and information effectively
• Read and interpret college-level texts
• Conduct research and obtain information from reliable sources

2. Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry

• Apply scientific principles to measure and observe the physical world
• Understand the relationship between human behavior and the physical environment
• Analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information
• Conduct calculations and solve problems using quantitative reasoning

3. Global and Civic Awareness

• Evaluate and apply the principles and methodologies used by the social and behavioral sciences
• Examine issues in their contemporary as well as historical settings and in a variety of cultural contexts

4. Intercultural Literacy and Creativity

• Understand artistic expression and the role of art in culture, history, and social critique
• Identify unique features among various cultures
• Describe and demonstrate intercultural competency

5. Personal, Academic, and Career Development

• Assess individual knowledge, skills, and abilities
• Set goals and develop plans to achieve them
• Perform work-related functions according to current industry standards and interact with others professionally

Administrators

Administrators of Napa Valley College manage the resources, tasks and communications involved in running our institution. The goal of the administrator is to keep the institution’s overall processes flowing smoothly, making decisions that facilitate education. Our administrators identify and articulate our institution’s mission and goals and make them happen by implementing programs, delegating tasks and allocating resources.

Board of Trustees

The Napa Valley Community College District is under the control of a Board of Trustees composed of seven community members. Elected from within established areas of the district, trustees serve four-year terms. In addition, students are represented by a student trustee, who is selected annually by the Associated Students of Napa Valley College. The student trustee can make and second motions and has an advisory vote on all public session items. The Board meets at least once each month, and meeting agendas and minutes are posted in accordance with California law on the BoardDocs webpage and in the McPherson Administration Building 1500.

Classified Professionals

Napa Valley College classified professionals are a diverse assembly of support staff who are dedicated to the success of students. Often a student’s first college contact is with a classified professional who assists students in their academic journey by providing services in many areas of matriculation, registration, financial aid, career planning, instructional support, campus beautification, and safety.

Faculty

The community college is acknowledged by educators throughout the country for providing superior undergraduate education, crediting the emphasis on outstanding teaching. The Napa Valley College faculty upholds this tradition.

Napa Valley College faculty members are selected for their academic excellence and genuine interest in students. They have a profound respect for the abilities, needs, and dreams of every individual they teach. They have diverse backgrounds, but share a love of learning and a desire to pass it on to their students. Our faculty keep abreast of the most effective teaching methods. They are creative, innovative, and hold high standards for their own scholarship. They support a learning process which continues throughout life.

Students

The profile of a Napa Valley College student has changed over the history of the college. Our first students entered after high school and studied full-time. Today’s student body is diverse in age, race/ethnicity, family status, years elapsed since high school, and educational goals. Our students also have much in common: they are bright, inquiring and goal oriented. They share a strong belief in education as a means of improving their lives.

These statistics translate to NVC classrooms enriched by diversity. The college values diversity in its student body, faculty, staff, and its curriculum. Individual differences are respected and valued in all parts of the NVC campus, allowing the college to receive federal status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution Title V grant.

President’s Area

Superintendent/President - Dr. Torence Powell
Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Human Resources, Training & Development - Charo L. Albarrán
Dean, Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness - Dr. Robyn Wornall
Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Dr. Patricia van Leeuwaarde Moonsammy
Director, Enterprise and Auxiliary Services - Carollee Cattolica
Director, Public Affairs and Communication - Rodd Aubrey
Manager, Office of the President and Board Services - Katherine Kittel
Manager, Human Resources and Compliance - Vacant¹
Administrator, Human Resources Systems - Annie Chindavong
Administrator, Training and Development - Michelle Bullock
Senior Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/President - Grace Bungart

Academic Affairs

Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Academic Affairs - Dr. Priscilla Mora
Dean, Career Education and Workforce Development - Dr. Douglas Marriott
Dean, Language and Developmental Studies, Arts & Humanities and Health Occupations - Robert Harris
Dean, Kinesiology, Administration of Justice and Social Science - Jerry Dunlap
Dean, Science & Engineering and Mathematics - Chris Farmer
Director, Continuing Education and Community Partnerships- Shawntel Ridgle
Manager, Dual Enrollment and Educational Partnerships - Cristine Tapia
Manager, Winery Operations - Vacant¹
Technical Director, Performing Arts - Matthew Cowell
Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Academic Affairs - Noemi Camargo Jepsen

Administrative Services

Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Administrative Services - James Reeves
Chief of Police - Amber Wade
Controller, Wendy Nucho
Director, Facilities Services - Miguel Vargas
Director, Payroll Services - Imelda Basco
Acting Assistant Director, Institutional Technology - Daniel Vega
Manager, Accounting - David Prince
Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Administrative Services - Solange Kada

Student Affairs

Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Student Affairs - Dr. Alejandro Guerrerro
Dean, Enrollment Services - Jessica Erickson
Dean, Student Affairs, Student Life and Engagement - Robin Darcangelo
Dean, Student Support Programs - Ramon Salceda
Dean, HSI Initiatives, STEM Resources, and Dream Center - Vacant¹
Director, Financial Aid- Mai Vo
Director, Student Health Services - Melissa Datu
Manager, Student Life - Vacant¹
Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Student Affairs - Martha Navarro

¹

Inquiries should be directed to the Vice President of the area.

By state law, the Napa Valley Community College district is under the control of a Board of Trustees composed of seven community members. Elected from within established areas of the district, trustees serve four-year terms.  Students are represented by a student trustee, who is selected in an annual election. The Board meets once a month, and agendas are posted in accordance with open meeting law.

The Board of Trustees has been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and developing one of the greatest resources a community can have - access to higher education for its residents and their families.  It is our hope and belief that students educated at Napa Valley College will lead enriched personal and professional lives and that they will, in turn, make their unique contribution to this community and to the world in which we live.

BOARD GOALS 2024-2025

1. Lead from a framework that advances diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility. 
2. Prioritize operational effectiveness and efficiency. 
3. Ensure financial stability and long-term fiscal health of college. 
4. Ensure the district and campus are ready for a 24/7 student housing community. 
5. Provide direction, support, and resources to the superintendent/president to grow community support for the college and its strategic initiatives.

 2024-2025 Trustees

• Ms. Jennifer Baker, District I
• Mr. Jeff Dodd, President, District II
• Mr. Jason Kishineff, District III
• Mr. Kyle Iverson, District IV
• Ms. Jeni Olsen, District V
• Ms. Ines De Luna, Vice President, District VI
• Mr. Rafael Rios, District VII
• Ms. Cindy Gonzalez, Student Trustee