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 Yuba College, Woodland Community College, Clovis Community College, and now, 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.
Prior to her position at DVC, as Interim President at Clovis Community College, which serves a diverse population of more than 13,000 students. Dr. Chahal led the College in 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 served as Accreditation Liaison Officer, assuring thoughtful and collaborative self-study.
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. As a lifelong student herself, she has successfully completed the CCLC’s Aspiring CEO Program, the UC Davis Wheelhouse Advancing Leaders Institute (ALI), and 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.