A native of Ventura, Raquel brings over 19 years of higher education experience to her role at Ventura College. Raquel is a graduate of St. Bonaventure High School and started her educational journey at Ventura College before transferring to California State University Channel Islands. She is a double alum of CSUCI with an M.A. in Educational Leadership and a B.A. in Sociology.

Raquel previously served as the Coordinator of Employer Recruitment Services at California State University Channel Islands. In her time at CSUCI, she grew departmental revenue, managed a budget of over $100K in grants and projects, and established job fairs as premier campus events by increasing employer partnerships with several regional, national, and global companies. Raquel has presented at National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and National Association of Student Affairs Professionals and Administrators (NASPA) conferences.

Raquel believes in supporting students through a culturally-validating lens. Her work has impacted her active participation in local economic and workforce development opportunities for the students that she serves. She has received several awards and honors for her commitment as a student-centric higher education professional such as the Division of Student Affairs, Pillar of Excellence Award and Cultivating A Service Attitude Award from California State University Channel Islands.