Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey
Superintendent/President
Palomar College
Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey proudly serves as the Superintendent/President of the Palomar Community College District. Having begun her post-secondary education at a community college, her journey has come full circle, granting her the privilege of leading one of the largest single-community college districts in California.
The Palomar Community College District has been serving the educational needs of Northern San Diego County for nearly 79 years. Spanning 2,500 square miles, the district operates with a $607 million budget and offers more than 250 degrees, certificates, and career training programs. Over 28,000 students pursue their educational goals through classes at the main campus in San Marcos and three Education Centers in Escondido, Fallbrook, and Rancho Bernardo. Palomar College also offers courses at several offsite locations throughout its vast service area, including Camp Pendleton, the Public Safety Training Facility in San Marcos, and the Vista Detention Facility. Palomar College is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with more than 50% of its student population identifying as Latino.
With a 28-year career in higher education, Dr. Rivera-Lacey remains deeply committed to advancing student success, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Her dedication to social justice fuels her passion for educational reform, and her research focuses on student access, retention, and completion, particularly for historically underserved populations.
Dr. Rivera-Lacey prepared for transfer at MiraCosta Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Marcos. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling at San Diego State University and later earned her Ph.D. in Education through the joint doctoral program at San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University.
Her professional achievements include being named a Wheelhouse Institute on Leadership Fellow (2023), an Aspen Institute Rising Presidents Fellow (2020–2021), and a National Community College Hispanic Council Fellow (2018). Recently, she was recognized as one of the "Top 500 Most Influential People in San Diego" by the San Diego Business Journal (2024).
In her free time, Dr. Rivera-Lacey enjoys photography, running, and honing her skills as a second-degree black belt in Shorin Ryu karate.
