Following a rigorous nationwide search for Associate Vice President, Chief Information Systems Officer, MiraCosta is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Anthony Maciel.
Dr. Maciel joins MiraCosta’s administrative team with 26 years of education experience, 16 years of which have been in community college management. Previously, Maciel has served as Director of Technology Services and Broadcast Systems for the South Orange County Community College District, managing a talented division of IT professionals and a divisional budget of over $10 million for an institution with more than 20,000 students. Maciel also served as the Administrative Director of Information Technology for the Coast Community College District, presiding over Coastline and Golden West colleges.
As an administrator, Dr. Maciel has been widely recognized for creating a culture of innovation and collaboration. In 2016, he was recognized as the administrator of the year at Saddleback College for his leadership, strategic planning, and technology infusion in all areas of the institution.
Before working as an administrator, Dr. Maciel spent six years as an adjunct professor of management information systems at California State University, Long Beach. He accredits his teaching experience for broadening his perspective of the balance required between IT needs in the classroom for both students and professors, as well as the greater institution.
Dr. Maciel, who migrated from Mexico to California with his mother and five siblings, has always valued education and its opportunities. “Early on, my mom always instilled in me two things,” said Maciel, “One is to have a good work ethic. And the second one is the value of education.” As an immigrant, he was always impressed by how open and available education is in the United States.
While studying as an undergrad, Dr. Maciel was a teacher’s assistant for first and fifth grade. After graduating, he worked as an engineer in private industry for four years before realizing that career path was no longer fulfilling. “I did some great things, it was a great job…you get to travel and meet a lot of people, work on different projects,” said Maciel. “Once you get over all the travel, compensation, and everything else, it just wasn’t fulfilling me.”
Maciel wanted to make a career keeping education available for others, primarily guiding students to success. He finds being an administrator and educator rewarding because he gets to help students and guide them through their educational journey.
In his new role as Associate Vice President, Chief Information Systems Officer, Dr. Maciel has many responsibilities. At the core of these, according to Maciel, is supporting the talented people in IT, providing strategic direction, and setting a vision for the IT team that will lead to institutional goal attainment and student success.
His role also involves working closely with the executive team to identify strategies that can assist MiraCosta in achieving its technological goals, as well as developing and managing the budget for the IT division.
One of Dr. Maciel's goals is to integrate all technological systems, providing a holistic view of all areas, especially for students, by interconnecting software like Canvas, student information system, and others used by the college so they can “speak with each other” and have the campus community benefit from the efficiency and greater visibility. “I want MiraCosta to be a leader in technology throughout the state,” said Maciel.
Dr. Maciel hopes to create a culture of innovation and creativity and ensure that all technological needs are met by including student input, using surveys, student design teams, and student involvement in committees to gain a better understanding of their needs. “When you are developing any plans, the input of students is at the core of that…those are the folks that we should be listening to,” said Maciel.
When deciding to apply for the position, Dr. Maciel recalls being drawn to the environment and culture of MiraCosta and its vision. “The mission, vision, and commitment of MiraCosta really speaks to me,” said Maciel, “The welcoming, nurturing, and validating environments for all learners and people spoke to me…I really wanted to be a part of that.”
Dr. Maciel is excited to be joining MiraCosta and working with its esteemed executive team and looks forward to accomplishing great things, focusing on benefiting students, and ensuring that they have what they need from the college.
