Whittier, California – Río Hondo College Board of Trustees Member Oscar Valladares has been reappointed to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Board of Directors, in which he will continue the vital work to close the student achievement gap on a national level.

Valladares was first appointed to the ACCT Board of Directors in June 2023, and was elected to return to the Board during the ACCT’s Annual Leadership Congress Conference, held Oct. 7-12 in Las Vegas. He will continue to represent the ACCT’s Pacific region, which is made up of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

The ACCT is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern more than 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States and beyond.

As a Dreamer and product of the community college system, Valladares is deeply committed to identifying ways to close the student achievement gap. For the last three years, he has been a member of ACCT’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, and has consistently advocated for supporting students’ basic needs, such as housing and food, to ensure all learners are able to thrive in school, regardless of their background.

“I am honored and privileged to be re-elected by my colleagues to the ACCT Board of Directors,” Valladares said. “I look forward to continuing the critical work of securing essential resources that allow students to succeed in their academic environments.”

Over the last two decades, Valladares has dedicated himself to a career in public service. Valladares has served as a member of the Río Hondo Community College Board of Trustees since 2018, leading various efforts to increase resources for students on the college campus, including access to mental health services, child care, technology, scholarship and work-experience.

“Trustee Valladares has lived a life dedicated to serving others, here at Río Hondo College and beyond,” Superintendent/President Dr. Marilyn Flores said. “His re-appointment to the ACCT Board allows him to continue Río Hondo College’s work in championing student success.”