Dr. Ana Margarita “Cha” Guzman has been a national leader in education for the past thirty years. She currently consults with the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) developing in service programs for college presidents, administrators and faculties. She also speaks at conferences on Leadership in the 21st Century and Educational Issues for Hispanics. She served as President of Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) from September of 2012 to 2014. During her Presidency at SFCC retention rates increased by 12%, graduation rates by 47%, and enrollment rates by 12%. Under Dr. Guzman’s leadership the Legislature approved a Higher Education Center that allowed Santa Fe students to have access to bachelors and graduate programs from public universities throughout New Mexico.
At Palo Alto College (PAC) she served as President for 12 years she increased enrollment by 61%, retention rates increased from 62% to 84% and continuing education revenues increased by 400%. During her tenure PAC garnered millions of dollars in State and Federal grants and was chosen to establish the first recovery high school in the State of Texas by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During her tenure 14 new Associate Degree programs were established and twenty eight additional certificate programs were submitted to the US Department of Education for approval for Pell eligibility.
Dr Guzman led PAC through two succesful reaccreditations with the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities in 2002 and 2011. AT SFCC she led them through a succesful reaccreditation with the Central Association of Colleges and Universities in 2012.
Dr. Guzman was appointed by Mayor of San Antonio in January 2020 to serve as Chair of the San Antonio Housing Authority. She also currently serves in the Brackenridge Park Advisory Board in San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Guzman was confirmed by the US Senate in 2012 to serve a four year term on the National Security Education Board (NSEB) . A 13 member panel which develops criteria for scholarships and grants for students who express an interest in national security issues. She also serves on the Board of Directors of a national early childhood and family support organization SOMOS.
Dr Guzman was appointed by President Clinton as the Chair of the White House Commission on Educational Excellence from 1993-to 2000. She was honored with the Ford Salute to Education in 2005 and was named to the San Antonio Hall of Fame in 2006. She served on the Board of Trustees for the College Board. Dr. Guzman began her career as a public school teacher, she taught at the University of Texas at Brownsville as well as Corpus Chisty University. She served as Vice Chancellor for the Texas A&M University System, and as Executive Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Administration and Community Relations at Austin Community College.
Dr. Guzman has attended the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University as well Harvard’s training for Corporate Boards. She holds an Ed.D. in Education from the University of Houston, an M.A. in Sociology from Texas Southern University and a B.S. in Education from Stout State University in Wisconsin.
