Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Academic Affairs
Dr. María L. Villagómez
Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Academic Affairs
Dr. María L. Villagómez is a goal-oriented and resourceful leader known for her ability to navigate between the intricate details and the broader vision of complex issues. With over 30 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in educational settings, she is recognized as an innovator and a driving force in the pursuit of academic excellence and student success.
Dr. Villagómez holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Spanish Linguistics and Literature, a master’s degree in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning with an emphasis in Educational Leadership, and a Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership. Her extensive academic background underscores her commitment to fostering student success and maintaining high academic standards.
Throughout her career, Dr. Villagómez has demonstrated an exemplary dedication to student success in higher education. She possesses a deep understanding of the critical connection between classroom experiences and administrative responsibilities. Her primary strengths lie in her proactive approach, initiative, and her ability to anticipate and organize change. She consistently brings an educator’s perspective to her administrative roles, enriching her leadership with insights drawn from her teaching experience.
For over 19 years, Dr. Villagómez taught Spanish Language and Literature courses at Napa Valley College, earning the McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015. Additionally, she has experience teaching English as a Second Language. As a tenured faculty member, she served in multiple leadership roles, including President, 1st Vice President, and Grievance Officer for the Faculty Association, as well as Secretary and 1st Vice President for the Academic Senate.
Dr. Villagómez served as an academic dean for over six years, including as Senior Dean of Language Arts and Social Sciences, two of the largest FTES-generating and most productive divisions at Napa Valley College. She also oversaw the Library and Distance Education. In her role, she secured funding and launched the district’s first laptop and hotspot loaner program, significantly reducing the digital divide in the community. Additionally, she spearheaded the launch of an online writing tutoring program, expanding access for students, and secured funding for a second Puente program cohort.
Her prior roles include Dean of Instruction and Academic Support, where she established Napa Valley College’s first CCAP agreement across multiple disciplines, and Dean of Language Arts, Educational Support, and Learning Technologies, where she led a classroom creation project to optimize space utilization and increase classroom availability. Dr. Villagómez also led and co-led various initiatives requiring close collaboration with Student Affairs, including the development and implementation of an automatic student enrollment process that boosted enrollments. She successfully co-led two of Napa’s Guided Pathways Cross-Functional teams: AB705 and Exploration Pathways. In recognition of her contributions, Dr. Villagómez was honored as the Administrative Employee of the Year by her colleagues in 2021.
In 2017, Dr. Villagómez completed the ACCCA’s Great Deans Program and the Enrollment Management Academy, hosted by Claremont University in collaboration with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Both are prestigious programs specifically designed for California community college administrators. In 2022, she completed the CCCCIO’s ALIVE Deans Academy, which prepares deans of color for Chief Instructional Officer roles. In December 2022, she completed the CCLC and ACCCA’s Aspiring CEO Program.
Dr. Villagómez has been actively involved in various civic, local, and statewide organizations, including Napa-Solano Girl Scouts, Leadership Napa Valley (alumna), HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, alumna), and the Napa Valley College Leadership Academy (alumna), among others. Most recently, she served on ACCCA’s Board of Directors and currently serves on ACCCA's Commission for Finance, Legislation, and Advocacy. Dr. Villagómez is fellow of Aspen's Presidential Fellowship for the 2024-2025 year.
Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Academic Affairs Office
MacDougall Admin Bldg., A-112
(805) 965-0581, Ext. 4379
mvillagomez2@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Team
Holly Higgins
Executive Assistant (Confidential)
(805) 965-0581, Ext. 4379
hkhiggins@sbcc.edu
Gary James
Educational Programs Support Specialist
(805) 965-0581, Ext. 4153
gnjames@sbcc.edu
Kaylene Thomas
Curriculum Coordinator
(805) 965-0581, Ext. 4258
kmthomas3@sbcc.edu
Victor Bryant
Catalog/Schedule Specialist
(805) 965-0581, Ext. 4715
vlbryant@sbcc.edu
Charlotte Early
Catalog/Schedule Specialist
(805) 965-0581, Ext. 4715
clearly@sbcc.edu
Rosa Castillo
Catalog/Schedule Specialist
(805) 965-0581, Ext. 4715
rmcastillo@sbcc.edu