Victor Valley College (VVC) has appointed Dr. Oscar Cobian as its new Vice President of Student Services, bringing to the role a deep commitment to equity, access, and student success rooted in lived experience and decades of leadership within the California community college system.
A first‑generation college student, Dr. Cobian began his educational journey at a community college after his parents immigrated from Mexico in pursuit of greater opportunity for their family. He credits the care and guidance of faculty and classified professionals with helping him navigate higher education at a moment when he nearly left college altogether. That experience now shapes his vision for Victor Valley College, particularly his focus on improving the student experience during the critical first weeks of the semester.
“It's my experience, we lose too many students in the first week—not because they lack ability, but because systems feel confusing or unwelcoming,” Dr. Cobian said. “Students should be met with clarity, compassion, and support from day one.”
During his first year at VVC, Dr. Cobian is prioritizing listening and collaboration while advancing key student‑centered improvements. These include timely and predictable financial aid processing, stronger access to counseling and enrollment services, and the full integration of the college’s Student Health Center as a visible hub for physical and mental wellness. He is also committed to strengthening coordination across existing programs so students experience services as connected rather than siloed.
Dr. Cobian joins Victor Valley College after serving in senior executive leadership roles across the California Community College system, including Vice President of Student Development and Interim President at Oxnard College. His work has expanded basic needs infrastructure, mental health services, equity‑focused programs, and support for justice‑impacted, undocumented, foster youth, veteran, and first‑generation students.
VVC President/Superintendent Dr. Daniel Walden welcomed Dr. Cobian to the college, noting, “Dr. Cobian brings a deep passion for student advocacy, community partnership, and inclusive institutional culture. His work reflects a steadfast belief in the power of community colleges to transform lives and strengthen the communities they serve.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Cobian is eager to deepen Victor Valley College’s partnerships with local industry, community organizations, veteran groups, and employers to expand workforce pathways and economic mobility for students and families throughout the High Desert.
“Community colleges don’t just transform students,” Dr. Cobian said. “They transform families.”