听If you鈥檙e a student with a disability or you鈥檙e a military veteran, be sure to connect with Leo Orange.

Meet听Leo Orange. Leo heads up our Educational Assistance Center (EAC), which supports students who have a wide range of disabilities (visible or not) by providing reasonable learning accommodations, exam space, and other services. He also heads up our Veterans鈥 Center, which helps student veterans navigate our educational programs and provides them a space to relax, study, and hang out on campus. For over two decades, Leo has helped democratize Oxnard College鈥檚 services so that all students can access our high-quality education and achieve their full potential.听

After earning his Bachelor鈥檚 and Master鈥檚 degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling from CSU Los Angeles, he began teaching at his alma mater. Later on, after running our EAC program for many years, Leo was tasked with running our District鈥檚 first Veterans鈥 Center right here at Oxnard College in order to serve our community鈥檚 servicemembers, veterans, and military families. Leo is one of the many unsung champions for students here at Oxnard College and we are indebted to him for his years of service.听

鈥淚 feel extremely fortunate to work with my colleagues at the EAC and Veterans鈥 Center because the work we do to help students achieve their goals is so vital and rewarding,鈥 shared Leo. 鈥淚n all of our work, I like to embrace the philosophy of 鈥淭here can be no excuses. If one is to be happy and successful in life never follow a dollar, always follow your dreams.鈥欌 We鈥檙e proud of the hardworking men and women doing just that while working alongside Leo. They include听Della Newlow, Candice Wittkins, Colleen Gladden, Jennifer Ruppert, John Elmer, Patricia Cowen, Joanne Chang, Jose Torres, and America Borroso. Thanks for all that you do!

So if you鈥檙e a student with a disability or you鈥檙e a military veteran, be sure to stop by the EAC or Veterans Center. And please remember that many injuries are invisible. For example, if you have hearing impairments, autism, learning disabilities, mental health or intellectual challenges, the EAC is here to support you as well. You can reach the 补迟听805-678-5830 or听oceac@vcccd.eduand you can contact our 补迟听805-678-5845 or听america_barroso1@vcccd.edu.听

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