Mark W. Rocha
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Dr. Mark W. Rocha | |
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| Born | August 29, 1953 |
| Alma mater | Bachelors, Villanova University Master degree, California State University, Fullerton Ph.D., University of Southern California |
| Occupation(s) | President/Superintendent Pasadena City College |
| Spouse | Nancy Rocha |
Mark W. Rocha (born August 29, 1953) in the Bronx, New York. Rocha, a past recipient of the J. William Fulbright Fellowship, an English teacher, and Literature aficionado. He is one of the former president of Pasadena City College.
Early life and Career
Rocha was raised in the Bronx, New York. He earned his bachelors degree from Villanova University, his mater's degree from California State University, Fullerton, and Ph.D in English from the University of Southern California[1]. His scholarly work is in the field of American drama and theater and includes numerous articles on the playwright August Wilson. In 1994, Rocha was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and taught for a year in Caracas, Venezuela at the Universidad Simon Bolivar.
Rocha previously served as president of West Los Angeles College. Under his leadership, West Los Angeles College was recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the nation's "Great Colleges to Work For."
At Pasadena City College, Dr. Rocha has positioned Pasadena City College as a truly global community college for the 21st century. Under his leadership, PCC was recently recognized for its efforts to close the achievement gap, winning the 2012 State Chancellor's Award for Student Success for its innovate[2] that has significantly increased student retention. Of the 2,000 community colleges in the United States, Pasadena City College is in the top 100 in every category for associate degrees awarded, and is ranked eighth in the nation as a "Veterans Friendly College" among all community colleges. The PCC Foundation[3] has raised over $7 million in private donations for student scholarships and has awarded over $26 million in external grants. On Dr. Rocha's watch, associate degrees in STEM field have doubled and the college completed a state of the art facility, the PCC Center for the Arts, the capstone project of a $175 million bond construction program.
Personal life
Rocha resides in Pasadena with his wife Nancy. He is the father of two adult sons. An avid runner, Rocha has completed seven marathons, including the inaugural Pasadena Marathon in 2009.