Dr. Monica Chahal is an experienced leader with a career spanning more than three decades in educational institutions, primarily the California Community College system. Her work has been defined by her focus on equity, social justice, and student success. Her lifelong commitment to students has led to a rewarding career in the California Community College system as a classified professional, adjunct and full-time faculty, and administrator at several California community colleges and now at Diablo Valley College. In all these roles, she is most proud to have served alongside and worked collaboratively with others committed to excellence and innovation.
In her various administrative positions, Dr. Chahal has led collegewide strategic planning, strategic enrollment management and post-pandemic enrollment recovery; resource development, including a $3 million Title V grant focused on Latinx student success in STEM; Guided Pathways implementation; building community partnerships through service on local nonprofit agencies and cross segmental collaborative efforts with K12 and local universities; and faculty and staff professional development. She has also served as Accreditation Liaison Officer as well as an ACCJC peer review team member and Vice Chair.
Dr. Chahal earned a BA in English from UC Davis, an MA in English from CSU Sacramento, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from UC Davis. She is a UC Davis Wheelhouse Fellow of the Advancing Leaders Institute (ALI) and has also participated in the UC Davis Wheelhouse Rural Serving California Community College CEO Convening.
Dr. Chahal is the proud daughter of immigrants to the United States, public school teachers themselves who instilled in her the value of an education.