Omar Jimenez, interim program manager for Orientation and Student Support and Classified Senate President at MiraCosta College, is passionate about serving students and representing Classified Professionals. His journey highlights the power of perseverance and the impact of supportive communities in shaping personal and professional growth.

While Jimenez may not have initially considered education a priority, his experiences in the Marines from 2010 to 2014 and his family’s encouragement led him to rediscover its value. After completing his service, he decided to resume his education with the guidance of his relative, Eva Viveros, now assistant registrar at MiraCosta College. “Let me see if I can do this education thing again,” he thought, as she helped him take the first step back into school.

A pivotal moment in Jimenez’s educational journey came when he secured a student worker position with Veterans’ Services in the Admissions and Records Office. The sense of community and dedication to student success he found there inspired him deeply. “After the Marine Corps, it’s very difficult to find yourself as part of a group dedicated to their craft. At MiraCosta, I found people constantly asking, ‘How can we better serve students?’ I wanted to be just like them,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez thrived at MiraCosta College, graduating in 2016 on the President’s List with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He earned an associate degree for transfer in Sociology, along with a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in social and behavioral sciences. Reflecting on his academic transformation, he said, “I went from someone who probably should have been kicked out of school to someone who had a perfect 4.0.”

Building on his success, Jimenez transferred to UC San Diego, graduating with honors with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He later earned a master’s in conflict management and resolution from the Kroc Peace School at the University of San Diego.

His career at MiraCosta has mirrored his academic growth. Starting as a student life and leadership specialist, Jimenez moved into the role of coordinator of student equity before stepping into his current leadership position. Throughout his journey, he has remained committed to excellence and growth, saying, “At MiraCosta College, the culture is that we always strive to be the best at what we do. We can keep doing better, and we will keep doing better.”

Jimenez’s story is a powerful testament to the strength of community, resilience, and the life-changing opportunities offered by higher education.