El Paso Community College (EPCC) is experiencing a shift in leadership roles, with Dr. Rebecca Escamilla being named as the Interim Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services, according to an announcement made by EPCC's President, Dr. William Serrata. Starting February 1, Dr. Escamilla is set to replace Dr. Carlos Amaya, who has transitioned into a new role following Dr. Steve Smith's retirement.
Dr. Serrata highlighted Dr. Escamilla's qualifications, stating, “Dr. Escamilla's appointment reflects her deep institutional knowledge, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to student access, persistence, and completion," as per EPCC News. She will oversee functions crucial to enrollment, retention, and student support, even while tackling the challenges of her new interim position fervently.
In a response brimming with enthusiasm, Dr. Escamilla expressed her eagerness, “I am extremely excited and thrilled to begin this new year in this new role with the College," adding she felt "deeply honored for the opportunity," as obtained by EPCC News. Her past engagement with instructional roles grounds her with a close understanding of student needs, something she acknowledged in her statement detailing the challenges ahead.
Throughout her tenure at EPCC, Dr. Escamilla's roles have included Dean of the Architecture, Art, Math, and Science Division and Associate Professor of Biology, the latter of which her educational background aligns with, having obtained both a Bachelor of Science and Ph.D. in Biology from The University of Texas at El Paso. Displaying a student-centered approach to leadership, with an emphasis on student success, Dr. Escamilla has functioned as the President's Achieving the Dream (ATD) Coordinator and Research Projects Assistant from 2017 to 2023, where her initiatives significantly improved student outcomes from enrollment through completion.
