Primavera Arvizu

2023-24 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow
Primavera Arvizu is an equity-minded practitioner with a deep commitment to students, access, inclusion, student success, and diversity who has over 18 years of experience in higher education from a four-year university to community colleges.

Primavera Arvizu currently serves as Vice President of Student Services at Porterville College since 2018. She has served in a broad range of roles including transfer counselor, general studies instructor, Director, Dean, and Vice President of Student Services. She has also assisted in interim capacities as the Interim Vice President of Instruction and Accreditation Officer. Within each role she brought student success to the forefront by enhancing systems, removing barriers, and providing opportunities. She has a strong commitment in creating pathways for student populations who have been historically minoritized in addressing access and student success recognizing multiple perspectives lead to a better education and knowledge.

Arvizu is collaborative in her approach and leads with transparency. Her cultural competency is built upon experiences which has shaped her to who she is today with an everlasting commitment for being a student advocate with the focus on organizational/program learning, intentional interventions/strategies and effectiveness. She values contributions made from all constituency groups ranging from students, faculty, staff, community partners and colleagues focusing on equitable educational outcomes and economic mobility for students.

Arvizu holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Bakersfield. She is currently a board member of the Central California Family Crises Center, a member of California State Chancellor’s Office Equal Employment Opportunity and Advisory Committee, participated on two Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) Partnership Resource Teams, was part of an Accreditation (ACCJC) team, an Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) mentor, the Kern Community College District Equal Employment Opportunity and Advisory Committee and college Guided Pathways Committee Co-Chair.