Dr. Maria Concepcion Ayon is Mohave
Community College’s new Dean of
Student and Community Engagement at the Lake Havasu City campus.
LAKE HAVASU CITY – Mohave Community College is pleased to announce that Dr. Maria Ayon will be the new Dean of Student and Community Engagement at the Lake Havasu City Campus. Ayon replaces Jann Woods, who is retiring after 19 years of service at the college.
Dr. Ayon was chosen after a nationwide search, during which 86 candidates applied for the job. Three finalists were chosen for interviews, which were recently held at the Lake Havasu City Campus.
“We’re excited to have Dr. Ayon join our Lake Havasu Campus team,” said MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein. “She has many years of experience working in higher education, serving students, and actively engaged in community activities. I believe she will be a wonderful asset to the College and to the community of Lake Havasu City.”
Dr. Ayon’s first day on the job at MCC will be August 3. Jann Woods will be on campus for two weeks to assist with the transition.
Educational & Professional History
Dr. Maria Concepcion Ayon was born and raised in a small town outside of Bakersfield, CA called McFarland. As the first in her family to graduate college and complete a terminal degree, she is all too familiar with complexities of navigating the higher education system. She has worked in higher education for over 20 years in a variety of capacities.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from California State University, Northridge. Her Doctor of Education degree was received from University of La Verne in Organizational Leadership. Her dissertation was titled “The impact of informal mentoring among Latino males as it relates to pursuing post-secondary education.” Additionally, she studied one year in Madrid, Spain during her undergraduate experience.
Her experience in higher education has grounded her work in student access, student equity, and student success. She has managed various units including Pre-college Programs, Matriculation, Admissions, Outreach, Recruitment, Financial Aid, Marketing, and Teacher Preparation, giving her a full understanding of Enrollment Management.
Dr. Ayon has worked with various student populations including adult learners, foster youth, students with disabilities, parents/guardians, international students among others. Dr. Ayon believes in community advocacy, college access, and mentoring youth. She has worked at various higher education institutions including California State University, Northridge, Hartnell College, Pierce College, Antioch University, University of La Verne, and University of the West.
More recently and prior to COVID19, she was consulting individuals regarding their admissions options and providing consulting services to community colleges regarding departmental strategic plans. She is currently a site administrator for CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) at one of the top 5 testing sites in the nation. Her leadership role and partnership with the city of Los Angeles has established the most efficient site in Los Angeles testing nearly 3000 patients daily.
