Dr. Omar Murrilo

Dr. Omar Murillo is a higher education leader with more than 23 years of experience and deep roots in California’s Salinas Valley, where he grew up and attended public schools. Since 2018, he has served as Vice President of Student Services at Mission College in Santa Clara. His collaborative, student-centered leadership has helped advance enrollment, student success, and institutional improvement, including expanded basic needs services, implementation of Starfish, strengthened behavioral intervention and incident response processes, streamlined access to student support programs, and equity-focused professional development for faculty and classified staff.

Dr. Murillo previously served as Director of Mission College’s Title III AANAPISI Grant and as Program Coordinator for the TRIO Student Support Services Program at CSU Monterey Bay. Earlier, he spent six years with the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School. His broader leadership and service have included involvement with WESTOP, CASA, San Francisco State University’s Educational Leadership EdD Program, and the California Community Colleges Chief Student Services Officer association. He has also participated in leadership programs through the Aspen Institute, The Advancing Leaders Institute through the UC Davis Wheelhouse Institute, Community College League of California, and National Community College Hispanic Council.

Dr. Murillo earned his EdD in educational leadership from San Francisco State University, an MA in Education with a concentration in counseling and student services from San José State University, and a BA in liberal studies with a minor in Spanish from CSU Monterey Bay. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children, staying active, cooking, and playing the drums.

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