New Dean of Learning and Technology Resources Named

 

Cuyamaca College has named a new Dean of Learning and Technology Resources on campus. Jessica Hurtado began her new position January 3, 2023.

 

Hurtado comes to Cuyamaca College after working as one of the leads in online student support with the California Virtual Campus a California State Chancellor’s Office initiative also known as the CVC-OEI. This initiative is an annual $20 million grant to provide technology and instructional support to meet the online distance education and online support services needs for the 116-college system.

 

In her new post at Cuyamaca College, Hurtado will oversee instructional computer facilities, instructional media services, the campus library, instructional technology support and training, tutoring, and web development. Her department will oversee the college website; computer desk help support; distance education; design, installation, and operation of classroom technology facilities; information literacy and library services; the tech mall on campus; and tutoring services.

 

“I’m very excited,” Hurtado said. “I’ve been able to see the support we can provide systemwide, and now I’ve hit a point in my career where I would love to be able to bring that back to a local campus. My expertise working with the community college system has allowed me to become proficient with policies and practices in distance education. Additionally, I have been able to hone my abilities to identify emerging technologies suitable for the advancement of Cuyamaca’s online education and student support services.”       

 

Hurtado’s work developing and promoting technologies that enable distance education systemwide for California Community Colleges began before the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has grown more important since then. Hurtado sees great potential at Cuyamaca College to expand technology for distance education. She is committed to promoting student equity and plans to lead the efforts of successful integration of all student support services into the online education arena.

 

“At Cuyamaca College we are committed to meeting the students where they are and more than ever, we know that means flexibility and options for online education and services,” said Jessica Robinson, Interim President of Cuyamaca College. “I’m thrilled to welcome Jessica, who will lead our efforts to better connect all students to what Cuyamaca College can offer them.” 

 

At the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, Hurtado served as a CVC program manager for online student experience. In that position, Hurtado led operations in distance education for the CVC Student Experience division, oversaw and maintained professional partnerships with educational technology vendors, and collaborated with the Foundation for California Community Colleges - CollegeBuys to develop and implement a program called the Systemwide Technology Access Collaborative – in 2021-2022, STAC supported California Community Colleges benefiting over 680,000 students and realized $14.6M in cost savings for the California Community Colleges.

 

 

Hurtado previously worked in roles including community outreach lead for Family Health Centers of San Diego, outreach specialist for the San Diego City College’s Outreach Department, and peer mentor coordinator for the San Diego City College First Year Experience program.

 

Hurtado grew up in San Diego and lives today with her family in Rancho San Diego. She holds a certification in E-Learning Instructional Design and Development from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from National University, a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from San Diego State University, and an associate degree in social and behavioral sciences from San Diego City College.

 

The district’s two colleges, Grossmont College in El Cajon and Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, together serve about 17,000 students. For information about the college district, go to www.gcccd.edu.