Office of the President

President Omar Torres

A Message From the President

Welcome to De Anza College – a truly world-class institution that is committed to providing students with the best education, support and opportunities to get where they want to go! We are proud of our vibrant campus and outstanding academic programs, comprehensive services for all students, and top-notch faculty and staff members who are passionate about helping students succeed.

Students from all backgrounds come to De Anza to pursue a wide range of educational goals. Some want to earn a degree or complete lower-division requirements before transferring to a university. Others are motivated to enhance specific skills or get specialized training to pursue a successful career. And some may be enrolled in our first baccalaureate degree program in Automotive Technology Management. Our commitment to innovation, equity and excellence promotes an environment where all these goals can be achieved.

De Anza is well-known for being Tops in Transfer – consistently at or near the top in transfers to California universities. We’re also Tops in Career Training – with a new Career Center and more than two dozen programs in fields ranging from arts and media to automotive and manufacturing technologies, nursing and health professions, information technology, public safety, business, child development and more! In addition, our six Guided Pathways Villages provide all students with relevant resources and supportive networks of faculty, staff and peers.

All of our programs have these values in common:

• Innovation – De Anza is at the forefront in developing new programs that meet the evolving needs of students and prospective employers, from our Zero Textbook Cost initiatives to our cutting-edge courses that allow students to pursue degrees and certificates, pursue lifelong learning, as well as re-skill and upskill to advance in the workforce.
  
  
• Equity – We’re committed to supporting all students, with programs tailored to individual needs and services available in person and online. We’re also expanding new pathways for a wide range of students, including free noncredit programs, dual enrollment for high school and adult school students, and credit for prior learning through military service, industry-certified training or other experiences outside the classroom.
  
  
• Excellence – Our students, faculty and classified professionals earn scores of awards and commendations each year. De Anza has been ranked among the top community colleges in California for student success in English and math, and was named one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges by the prestigious Aspen Institute College Excellence Program – three times in a row!

You can learn more about De Anza by consulting our college catalog, our latest annual report and our Fact Book. I'll look forward to seeing you on campus!

Sincerely,

Omar Torres, Ed.D.
President, De Anza College