With a 27-year track record in public service, including 19 years focused on higher education, Dr. Ornelas has been instrumental in crafting equity-driven programs and strategies that have opened the doors of higher education to thousands of students and their families. Dr. Ornelas has played a key role in managing the organizational alignment of SBCCD with its two affiliated colleges, Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College, in pursuit of a long-range, student-focused strategic vision named “Planning+: Integrated Planning.” Moreover, she spearheaded the development of SBCCD’s common application system, which reduced institutional barriers for students to apply to both Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College. As an advocate for increased funding for public higher education, Dr. Ornelas has secured millions in grant funds to bolster student support services, career training, and regional economic growth initiatives. Her contributions to the field have garnered her accolades such as the Future Leaders of America Latino Legacy Award, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Honored Alumni, the Pacific Coast Business Times 40 under 40 award, and the Service Award from Santa Barbara County’s Commission for Women. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Ornelas’s educational journey began in a community college. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara, obtained her master’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and earned her doctorate in education at California State University, Fresno.