My name is Melissa Garcia and I'm an academic counselor for Oxnard College. I attended Santa Barbara City College after high school where I received an Associates Degree in Liberal Studies. I transferred to Cal State Long Beach where I pursued a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. After receiving my bachelors degree I started working for the Santa Barbara Unified School District and discovered my passion for working with students.

As a first generation college student, I appreciated the guidance and support that I received from teachers/counselors, and that's why I decided to pursue a Master's Degree in Educational Counseling from the University of La Verne. I strive to assist, motivate, empower, and advocate for our amazing students every  day. I see myself in our students and commend each one of them for being enrolled at Oxnard College as it will lead to bigger and better opportunities for them, their families, and their community.  
Proud to be a Condor!

I first joined Oxnard College in 1998, as an EOPS Counselor and although I am officially retired, I continue to proudly serve our students and campus community. Outside the college, I remain active in teaching martial arts and am honored to have made history as the first athlete to hold world championship titles in both boxing and kickboxing. I enjoy my work in the Kinesiology Department, where I’ve had the opportunity to develop CSU and UC transferable courses that blend physical education with personal empowerment. My greatest reward comes from supporting students—whether in the classroom or through counseling—as they pursue their academic and personal goals. Helping them discover their strength and reach their full potential continues to inspire my work every day.

Growing up I hated school. I never imagined that I would one day work to obtain a Master's level degree and work in higher education. My disdain for education changed as I saw firsthand the more education I earned, the better career opportunities I could find. I went from my first job out of high school working long and rigorous hours in a lemon packing house in Santa Paula to now having a nice office, being a tenured professor(I didn't even know what this meant growing up) and making a difference in my community. I work at OC to now help YOU find your path to success, let's go!!!

When I'm not working I enjoy spending time with my spouse and five kids. I love to travel to warm tropical places and like to vacation in Palm Springs lounging by the pool. When time permits I try to get out and play golf or go to our local beaches for sun, ocean and a stand up paddle board sesh.