Office of the President

President Omar Torres

De Anza College President Omar Torres is a forward-thinking educator with more than two decades of California community college experience, including nine years in part-time and full-time faculty positions and 14 years in progressively responsible administrative roles.

Torres began serving as De Anza's fifth president in January 2025, after four years as assistant superintendent/vice president of Instruction at College of the Canyons in Southern California. While at College of the Canyons, he oversaw the initiation of new career technical education and apprenticeship programs and a significant expansion of dual enrollment and noncredit courses and partnerships. He also worked to boost supplemental funding, securing grants for apprenticeships, zero cost textbooks, and culturally responsive pedagogy as well as a $1 million state appropriation to fund a training lab and simulation equipment for the college’s health professions programs.

Torres has also been active in statewide education organizations, serving as president of the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers Association and as a member of the California Community Colleges Curriculum Committee and Consultation Council, and the Community College League of California’s Advisory Committee on Legislation.

Before becoming vice president at College of the Canyons, Torres served three years as that college’s associate vice president of Instruction. Earlier positions include instructional dean of the School of Mathematics, Sciences and Health Professions at College of the Canyons, vice president of academic affairs at Santa Ana College, department chairperson and tenured professor of chemistry at Moorpark College, and adjunct faculty member at Los Angeles City College.

Torres holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of La Verne.

He was selected for the position of De Anza president by Chancellor Lee Lambert of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, following a nationwide search by a committee of community members, students, faculty members, classified professionals and administrators. His appointment is pending ratification by the district Board of Trustees in January 2025.

More Information

• Read the announcement of President Torres' selection
• Read the chancellor's message about President Torres' selection