Shasta Buchanan

Dr. Shasta Buchanan currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for the Austin Community College District. In this role she works collaboratively across the college to ensure student success in and beyond the classroom. Her work includes ensuring all students have access to a great education, are engaged and have a student experience that enables them to persist and timely complete a degree or certificate to unlock their future goals. She is a strong advocate for working with external and internal stakeholders to make college affordable with an innovative spirit and strategy to evolve how we support students.

Previously Dr. Buchanan served as Associate Vice President of College and High School Relations at ACC where she increased dual credit enrollment and expanded partnerships with local school districts and businesses. She has over 25 years of higher education experience as a student affairs and enrollment management administrator, spanning across many institutions in Texas, which include Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Tech University, University of North Texas at Dallas, and Portland Community College (Portland, Oregon).

Additionally, Dr. Buchanan is known for her work in enrollment management and has been recognized by Ruffalo Noel Levitz for student success and degree completion in her development of the Century Scholar Program at Texas A&M University (which also was recognized by the Department of Education / Office of Civil Rights). All of her commitments, which includes service on boards throughout the region and country, are centered at the core of advancing any person to reach their highest potential – whether a student enrolls in college directly from high school, an adult returning to education to upskill, a first-generation student, or a student who just needs a second chance – her commitment is unwavering to continue to transform education to be student-ready.

Dr. Buchanan also is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.