ELAC Administration
Administration Members
Administrators:
Mercy Yanez
Interim Vice President, Liberal Arts and Sciences
Email: yanezm@elac.edu
Michael Pascual
Vice President, Administrative Services
Email: pascuamo@elac.edu
Dr. Miguel Dueñas
Vice President, Student Services
Email: duenasma@elac.edu
Dean:
Dr. Djuradj Babic
Dean, Liberal Arts & Sciences/MESA Program Director
Email: babicd@elac.edu
Dr. Juan Urdiales
Dean, Continuing Education & Workforce Development
Email: urdialjr@elac.edu
Gina Chelstrom
Dean, Learning Support Services
Email: chelstg@elac.edu
Dr. Laura Cruz-Atrian
Interim Dean, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Advancement (OIEA)
Email: cruzatl@elac.edu
Danelle Fallert
Dean, Student Services
Email: fallerd@elac.edu
Grace Hernandez
Dean, EOPS
Email: hernang@elac.edu
James Kenny
Dean, Liberal Arts and Sciences
Email: kennyja@elac.edu
Ming-huei Lam
Dean, Liberal Arts and Sciences
Email: lamm2@elac.edu
Dr. Sonia Lopez
Dean, Student Services
Email: lopezms@elac.edu
Kendra Madrid
Dean, Continuing Education and Workforce Development
Email: madridk@elac.edu
Kerrin McMahan
Dean, Liberal Arts and Sciences
Email: mcmahakm@elac.edu
Paulina Palomino
Dean, Student Services
Email: palomipp@elac.edu
Dr. Steven Reynolds
Dean, Liberal Arts and Sciences
Email: reynolsj@elac.edu
Al Rios
Dean, Continuing Education & Workforce Development
Email: riosa@elac.edu
Angelica Toledo
Dean, Continuing Education & Workforce Development
Email: toledoa@elac.edu
Blanca Gomez
Dean, Outreach and Recruitment
Email: gomezb2@elac.edu
Dr. Armond Aghakhanian
Director, ELAC Foundation
Email: aghakha@elac.edu
Erica Mayorga
Dean, Continuing Education & Workforce Development/South Gate
Email: mayorge@elac.edu
Bio: Erica Mayorga is the Dean of the South Gate Campus. Her expertise is grant implementation and supporting organizational initiatives, including curriculum development and contact education, while building partnerships with local industry and government. Erica possesses ten years within the Los Angeles Community College District, where she spent most of her experience as a Grant Director.
Before Erica’s position with the community college sector, she was employed with the City of Los Angeles, Economic Workforce Development Department overseeing and coordinating employment and training programs for disadvantaged youth. She has over 20 years of experience, specifically in the Economic & Workforce Development Programs in the public sector.
Erica is also a product of the community college system. She obtained her associates in social work at Cerritos college before transferring to California State University, Long Beach, where she graduated with a bachelor of art in psychology and minor in administrative justice. She also holds a master’s of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach.
Dr. Vanessa Ochoa
Dean, Student Services, One Zone (Dream Resource Center, Education Justice Program, LGBTQ Center, Umoja Program and Safe Zone Solidarity Partner Training Program)
Email: ochoavj@elac.edu
Bio: Born and raised in Boyle Heights, Doctora Ochoa is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants who stressed the power of education. As such, Docotra Ochoa devotes her passion, love, and power to collaborate with communities to support empowerment and self-advocacy.
Classified Management:
Lindy Fong
Financial Aid Manager
Email: fonglw@elac.edu
Nghi Nghiem
Associate Vice President, Administrative Services
Email: nghiemnx@elac.edu
Anna Salazar
Registrar
Email: salazaal@elac.edu
Jose Villarreal
Director of College Facilities
Email: villarj@elac.edu
Hao Xie
College Financial Administrator
Email: xiehy@elac.edu
Miguel Perez
College Book Store Manager
Email: perezma@elac.edu
Steven Wong
VPAM Director
Email: wongsy@elac.edu
Bio: Wong is a curator, educator, and arts administrator born and raised in Los Angeles. He most recently served as Curator at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) at Barnsdall Park, one of the oldest and longest-running contemporary art galleries in Los Angeles. His exhibitions include To View a Plastic Flower (2020), OFFAL (2019), and HERE (2018), each of which featured a dynamic roster of Los Angeles artists.
Prior to LAMAG, Wong served as Interim Executive Director and senior staff curator at the Chinese American Museum (CAM), where he developed and implemented both contemporary art and history exhibitions, including Dreams Deferred: Artists Respond to Immigration Reform (2010-2011). He also curated major exhibitions for the Getty’s Pacific Standard Time initiatives, including Breaking Ground: Chinese American Architects in Los Angeles (2012) and Circles and Circuits I & II (2017), which was on view at both CAM and the California African American Museum and explored the art and history of the Chinese Caribbean diaspora since the early 20th century.
Wong has also served as adjunct faculty at UC Santa Barbara, Ventura College, and Pasadena City College. He began his career as a practicing artist and has exhibited his work nationally. He holds an M.F.A. in Art from UC Santa Barbara, M.A. in Asian American Studies from UCLA, and B.A. in Art from UCLA. Prior to transferring to UCLA, he attended the Santa Monica College of Design, Art and Architecture.