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LOS ANGELES, CA (May 19, 2010) -- Marvin Martinez has been named President of Los Angeles Harbor College.

Martinez, who has been Vice Chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development for the Los Angeles Community College District since 2008, will assume the post at the Wilmington campus in July.

"Martinez's leadership abilities and knowledge of the changing workplace will be an invaluable asset to the more than 9,400 students at Harbor College,'' said Mona Field, President of the LACCD Board of Trustees, in announcing the appointment.

"Harbor College has had a long tradition of providing students with educational programs that create and build partnerships with local business, community, and civic organizations. I look forward to continuing this effort," Martinez said.

Dr. Daniel LaVista, who will step in as LACCD Chancellor on August 1, expressed enthusiasm over Martinez's appointment. "Mr. Martinez is an excellent choice to guide Harbor College's next stage of growth and development. His deep knowledge and experience of the connections between academics, student success and economic/workforce development will be of much use to him in his new role. I look forward to working with him in advancing the goals of the college and the district."

Before joining the LACCD, Martinez served as vice president of planning and development for the Santa Monica Community College District, a provost at Santa Monica College, and associate vice president of planning and development for the Santa Monica Community College District.

Martinez, 46, earned a Master of Arts in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA.

Martinez succeeds Dr. Linda M. Spink, who has been Harbor President since 2000. During her tenure as Harbor's first female president, Dr. Spink has overseen a nearly $500 million campus renovation and managed severe budget cuts.

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