Mesa Community College’s Becerra completes national leadership fellowship

Cesar Becerra, Mesa Community College career engagement/industry connection and student services manager, has completed the yearlong Dr. Ted Martinez Jr. National Community College Hispanic Council Leadership Fellows Program.

The program prepares aspiring leaders for executive-level roles in higher education, including a community college dean, vice president and president. The program provides participants with advanced leadership training, mentoring and professional development to strengthen their ability to promote student success in diverse learning environments, according to a release.

“I’m honored to have been selected for this fellowship and look forward to continuing to learn from distinguished community college leaders from across the country,” said Becerra. “The program’s focus on leadership excellence and student success directly aligns with my commitment to reach my full potential and bring communities together to seek scholarship, knowledge and personal growth.”

As a member of the 2024–25 Fellows cohort, Becerra engaged in a yearlong professional development experience that included two residential seminars — one held in conjunction with the NCCHC Annual Symposium in Fall 2024 and another in Spring 2025 culminating with an official pinning ceremony and introduction as a new NCCHC Fellow during the Concilio Leadership Symposium, hosted by NCCHC, on Sept. 25 in Long Beach, California.

The fellowship also included individualized executive mentoring. Each fellow is paired with a senior-level community college executive who serves as a mentor throughout the year, helping them develop a personalized career plan and expand their professional network. His mentor is NCCHC Fellow Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover, president of Southeast College in Houston, Texas.

“Guiding Cesar through his leadership journey has been a privilege. His commitment to growth and community reflects the very best of what higher education can achieve—leaders who lead with purpose, compassion and a vision for transformative student success,” said Villagran-Glover.

“Cesar’s achievement demonstrates how investing in professional development strengthens our ability to help students succeed,” said MCC President Dr. Richard Daniel. “As our employees grow and develop as leaders, they bring new ideas, fresh perspectives and creative energy to their work, enhancing the overall student experience which leads to successful institutional outcomes.”

Since its inception, the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program has developed hundreds of leaders who now serve in senior administrative positions at community colleges nationwide.

Visit ncchc.com for additional information about the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program.