​(Santa Ana, CA)—Rancho Santiago Community College District announces the appointment of Omar Torres as vice president of academic affairs at Santa Ana College (SAC). In this leading role, Torres serves as the college’s chief instructional officer. His overall responsibilities include all aspects of academic programs and instructional support services, professional development, class scheduling, instructional budgets, allocation, and library services.

Torres has more than 13 years of experience in higher education. From 2010-2014, he served as dean of mathematics, sciences and engineering for College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. In that capacity, he helped construct the college’s instructional programs for credit and non-credit course offerings. Additionally, he focused on curriculum development and program growth in distance education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines. He also worked to enhance the college’s workforce development programs and offerings while collaborating with local businesses and industry.  He was instrumental in helping the college secure over $5 million in federal, state, and regional grants.

Previously, he served as the department chairperson of chemistry, earth and environmental sciences at Moorpark College. Prior to that, he was a tenured professor of chemistry at Moorpark College. He also has served as an adjunct chemistry instructor at Los Angeles City College. From 1996-2001, Torres conducted chemical research for The Dow Chemical Company, Freeport, Texas; Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas; and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Torres earned a B.S. in chemistry from Texas A & M University and an M.S. in chemistry from UCLA.

About Rancho Santiago Community College District
Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are public community colleges of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, which serves the residents of Anaheim Hills, Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Villa Park.  Both colleges provide education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, and customized training for business and industry.