Leopoldo Villalobos is a passionate and equity-driven leader with over 24 years of experience in higher education, student services, and community outreach. He currently serves as the Director of Outreach & Promise at West Valley College, where he leads innovative programs that support student recruitment, persistence, and success—especially for first-generation, low-income, and historically underserved students.
Throughout his career, Leopoldo has designed and scaled impactful programs across California, including dual enrollment partnerships, culturally responsive Summer Bridge programs, and federally funded TRIO initiatives like Upward Bound and Talent Search. Under his leadership, student engagement has flourished, with events like the Latinx Student Summit and targeted onboarding efforts helping hundreds of students transition confidently into college life.
Leopoldo has helped secure more than $14 million in federal and state funding, managed large teams, and developed cross-sector partnerships with K-12 districts, cities, and community organizations. His leadership style is collaborative, action-oriented, and rooted in lived experience—as a first-generation college student, he understands the life-changing power of access and support.
He holds a Master’s in Public Policy & Administration and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Leopoldo is also a proud graduate of the Los Angeles Community College District’s Project Match faculty diversity program and fluent in Spanish.
Whether he's developing new programs, mentoring students, or leading systemwide initiatives, Leopoldo’s mission remains the same: to create inclusive pathways where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.