LACC Community Welcomes a New President
Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti joined the Los Angeles City College community to welcome Reneé D. Martinez, LACC’s 16th President, at a reception on September 26, 2013. Ms. Martinez is the first Latina to be named LACC’s President in the school’s 84-year history.
Reneé D. Martinez was born and raised in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. She attended Our Lady of Lourdes and Assumption Grammar School, then graduated from Sacred Heart of Jesus High School. She received her Associate of Arts Degree from Mount Saint Mary’s College in 1968, then moved on to Cal State University of Los Angeles where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development in 1972. Reneé attended graduate school at the University of San Francisco where she received a master’s degree in child development.
Reneé’s career in education began at Los Angeles Unified School District, where she was a teacher, consultant and director. During this time she began teaching part-time at East Los Angeles College (ELAC). In 1975, she became a full-time faculty member in ELAC’s Child Development Department. Reneé was later elected Department Chair of Child Development, going on to hold other managerial positions, including: Director of Student Activities, Evening Dean and Vocational Dean. In October of 2001, she became Vice President of Workforce Education and Economic Development. In that role, Reneé facilitated effective collaborations with the business community to provide assistance for students seeking employment, training, and education.
In August 2012, Reneé was appointed Interim President at Los Angeles City College by the Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District. Reneé’s responsibilities now include managing all college departments, faculty and staff as well as overseeing the college budget, student success and student support services. Reneé’s principle responsibility is to provide the vision, leadership, and strategic direction to ensure that LACC achieves goals set forth by the Los Angeles Community College District.
Reneé always puts students, and those in most need, at the forefront. She enjoys the challenges of developing and sustaining programs and policies that will continue the tradition of education excellence in the Los Angeles Community College District. Her career — at every level — has been a reflection of the college mission of an inclusive and effective learning and working environment for all.
Reneé has competed in ten Los Angeles Marathons. Her immediate family includes her sister Ann Lopez, brother Robert de Leon, daughter Rachel Martinez, step-son Robert Martinez and his fiancé “Bunnie”, her husband Garson Lee and her three grandchildren (Asa, Ayla and Frankie).
