Diego James Navarro

Diego James Navarro is a seasoned educator and leader with extensive experience in academia and industry. As the Founder and Principal Investigator of the Academy for College Excellence since 2002, Diego has spearheaded professional development trainings across multiple colleges focused on student equity and guided pathways. In addition, Diego serves on the Selection Committee for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and collaborates with various institutions to support students of color through a jobs initiative. With a background as a Professor Emeritus at Cabrillo Community College and roles as Visiting Scholar at both the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and UC Santa Cruz, Diego has developed innovative curricula aimed at enhancing student success. Previous experience includes executive roles at Hewlett-Packard and Zayante, Inc., alongside significant contributions to software technology and educational consulting. Diego holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor's degree from Antioch University.