Irene Robles-Lopez

2020-21 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow
Dr. Irene Robles-Lopez is the vice president of student affairs at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, where she leads the Division of Student Affairs supporting students across five campuses and PimaOnline. She leads the work of enrollment management; advising and counseling; career, student life, access, and disability resources; Title IX; code of conduct; and cocurricular engagement. She also participates in several college-wide initiatives focused on student access and success.

Irene was raised in El Paso, Texas, and is bilingual in Spanish and English. Her career in education stems over 22 years and began in Texas, where she taught in the K-12 system as an elementary school teacher. In her 19 years at the community college, she has served in multiple positions in student affairs, including educational support faculty counselor and adjunct faculty.

She is an advocate for students at the local, regional, and national levels. She has served on the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity and the special Commission on College Readiness. Setting a culture of success for students, staff, and faculty is a priority for her. Irene is genuine and passionate and leads with a student-centered approach in the work she does at the college and in the community.

Irene earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of Arizona. She holds a master of counseling from the University of Phoenix and received her B.A. in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Texas at El Paso. She actively works with community partners and organizations to provide educational opportunities for all students. She is also part of Women United-United Way of Southern Arizona.