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Ricardo Garcia, Ph.d.

Summary

Student-centered educator and administrator with an exemplary ability to build internal and external partnerships focused on enhancing the student experience and delivering positive results, including the development and implementation of programs and initiatives designed to serve marginalized and historically underrepresented students

Education

Employment Record

August 2017Present

Graduate Program Director | Clinical Assistant Professor

Florida International University | School of Education and Human Development | Miami, FL

Serve as graduate program director for masters and doctoral degree programs in educational leadership and policy studies. Current course load includes: School Law: Hybrid and lecture modes of instruction; School Finance: Online; Instructional Leadership: Lecture; Public Relations in Education: Lecture; Leadership in Education: Hybrid and Lecture; Theories of Educational Administration: Hybrid; Ethics and Educational Leadership: Hybrid; Administrative Internship: Lecture' Seminar in Educational Leadership: Lecture and Hybrid.

Major responsibilities include service to the institution, specifically program development and evaluation of the MS and educational doctoral programs in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Such efforts have led to the following: 

  • Led the development and implementation of the program's first EdD degree cohort model, founded on Problem of Practice concept.
  • Led the development and implementation of the school's first fully online Master's in Educational Leadership degree.
  • Reaffirmation of the Master of Science in Educational Leadership by the Florida Department of Education.
  • Successful review and alignment of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) standards with the department's educational leadership and professional studies program.
  • Led the successful report completion and program compliance attainment of the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) 2025 System Strategic Plan for educational leadership programs. 
  • Development and implementation of recruitment campaigns culminating in an increase of 27% enrollment in the masters program, and a 111% increase in the doctoral degree program.
20132017

Executive Director of Transformational Learning

Arlington Independent School District

The Executive Director of Transformational Learning  is the senior administrator responsible for the design, development, implementation, and sustainability of student-centric academic and student development programs and initiatives serving approximately 62,000 students - including programs serving adult learners within the city of Arlington in the areas of reading, writing, high school alternative degree, and certificate attainment in a variety of career  & technology fields. 

20102013

Associate Vice Chancellor

Tarrant County College District (TCCD)

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs (initially assigned to the Vice Chancellor for Student Development) and serving approximately 100,000 students (undergraduate and continuing education), responsibilities include:

  • Leading the implementation of the Academic Enrichment Program (AEP) designed to provide adult education for community members within the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro-plex through local grant funds.
  • Acting as senior administrator responsible for oversight of the district's Developmental Education Program (Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and Student Success Course [psychology]).
  • Collaborating with vice presidents, deans, and faculty, as well as leading the design and implementation of Math Emporiums (i.e., personalized system of instruction) mode of instruction at all five TCCD campuses.
  • Leading conference and seminar opportunities for developmental education faculty.
  • Collaborating with campus presidents and vice presidents of student development and academic affairs to streamline campus practices and systemically coordinate the district's student development services and programs (e.g., Developmental Education, Disability Services, Testing, Counseling, Academic Advising, Policy Review, Dual Credit, Continuing Education, and strategic planning for the district).
  • Conducting program evaluations in the area of student affairs for continuous improvement and in preparation for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reviews.
  • Collaborating with campus vice presidents to review and amend the district's Student Conduct program, along with its associated practices and  procedures.
  • Acting as senior administrator over district recruitment, enrollment management and TRIO program functions.
  • Conducted yearly reviews of Disability Services within developmental education coursework, including the training and assessment of instructional resources (e.g., Kurzweil). 
  • Establishing and spear-heading the district's Student Success Council (composed of student development administrators) and Developmental Education Council (composed of academic affairs administrators). 
  • Collaborating with the district's Institutional Research and Information Systems departments to provide effective technology and data services to all student development services units district-wide.
  • Planning, coordinating and sustaining the college's annual Developmental Education Institute: approximately 350 faculty.
20092010

Executive Dean of Mathematics and Developmental Education

Eastfield College

Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and responsible for:

  • Supervising eight academic departments, including: Mathematics, all developmental studies (math, reading and writing), human development, dual credit, learning assistance center, and Gateway to College.
  • Supervising and evaluating 116 full-time and adjunct faculty, plus 35-40 certified tutors with assistance from associate dean and department chairs.
  • Collaborating with faculty and department chairs to initiate DREA + DWRI labs, fast-track DMAT modules, lecture-in-PSI (mathematics) and non-course based remediation format in DREA.
  • Collaborating with the college's Continuing Education and the Technology departments to make available project-based coursework for Gateway to College students.
  • Serving as P-16 advisor for Eastfield College at the regional level.
  • Overseeing the college's Developmental Education Program Survey (DEPS), as required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB): 2009-2010
20082009

Dean of Outreach and Student Development

Eastfield College

Reporting to the Vice President of Student Development Services and responsible for:

  • Overseeing  student services and student development programs, including:  Dual Credit, GED/home-school, Disability Services, TRIO (Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound), SPAR, Community and School Outreach,  Health Services, Marketing & Public Information, and Athletics and Intramural activities.
  • Supervising 65 staff members, including program coordinators and directors.
  • Founded the college's first women's volleyball and soccer teams. 
  • Managed aquatic center operations, including instruction during the academic year and summer events/activities. 
  • Managing $5.5mil budget.
  • Improving dual credit marketing & recruitment strategies. With notable increase of 39% enrollment (fall to fall) and 69% (summer to summer).
  • Designing and implementing a Collegiate Calendar with service area high schools. Serving 15 area high schools. Program successfully made admissions and testing highly accessible to all participating students grades 11-12.
  • Co-designing the Sunnyvale ISD collegiate program. Dual credit program valued at $300,000 in initial revenue.
  • Implementing “Still I Rise” - project manhood leadership institute at Eastfield College. Saturday program for African-American males (4th through 7th grade). Enhancement and instruction on reading, math, writing, personal skills, higher ed opportunities, and cultural awareness.
  • Conducting yearly program evaluations.
  • Serving as the college's Universal Recruitment and Retention Strategy Survey (URRS) administrator: 2008-2009.