As president of Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), Dr. Luis G. Pedraja provides leadership to the College community while working to enhance the College’s mission to address the higher education needs and economic development of its community. He is a passionate advocate for increased access to higher education for all people, especially those who have been underserved historically by the American higher education system. Throughout his career, Dr. Pedraja has focused on Latino perspectives, and has published many books and articles exploring how understanding language and culture can promote intercultural dialogue and tolerance. At QCC, President Pedraja has developed and implemented a collaborative and transparent strategic planning process, created community based learning hubs at 2 locations in Worcester and launched several initiatives to bolster student success at the College. Included among these initiatives is a new mentoring program, creation of a student success center, and a series of professional development seminars for student-centered services. Before coming to QCC, Dr. Pedraja served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Antioch University in Los Angeles and Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for Peralta Community College District in California. Dr. Pedraja was recognized by the Worcester Business Journal as one of the 22 people to meet in 2022, the Worcester Business Journal named him as Innovative Business Leader of the Year in 2021, and in 2019 was appointed to the Worcester Business Journal’s Power 50 Class of 2019. Dr. Pedraja was recognized in 2020 as one of the 50 most influential people in Central MA. He was awarded the Key to the City of Worcester in 2018.