Mayra Padilla

Dr. Mayra Padilla currently serves as the Dean of Student Success & Institutional Effectiveness at Contra Costa College. In this role, she leads collegewide efforts to strengthen institutional effectiveness, implement student success strategies at scale across pathways, and ensure that research, planning, and evaluation are aligned with equitable student outcomes.

Dr. Padilla previously served as the District’s Special Assistant to the Chancellor, where she led Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility (DEIBA) and Equal Employment Opportunity initiatives. At Contra Costa College, she has also served as the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness & Equity, Senior Dean of Planning & Special Programs, and Accreditation Liaison Officer. During her tenure, she helped guide the development of three Student Equity Plans, the Strategic Educational Plan, a comprehensive accreditation self-evaluation, and a redesigned integrated planning and budget process.

A researcher by training, Dr. Padilla holds a PhD in neuroscience from UC Berkeley and a BS in applied physics from UC Davis. She has spent more than 15 years in the California Community Colleges advancing evidence-based, equity-minded decision-making.

Dr. Padilla represents the Bay Area (East Bay) on The RP Group Board of Directors, providing statewide leadership in professional learning, equity initiatives, and research-to-practice efforts through roles on the Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Committee, the Chancellor’s Office Transfer Intent Definition Task Force, the IRPE PD Steering Committee, and as a Tri-Chair for the Summer Institute. Most recently, she was selected to participate in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office ALIVE Leadership Academy. Her work is rooted in antiracist, student-centered practices and a commitment to building institutional cultures where all students and employees can thrive.