Board

Heba Griffiths

 
 
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Director of EOP&S/CARE at Rio Hondo College

Heba Griffiths is a college administrator with more than 25 years in higher education serving and advocating for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and promoting educational equity. She has worked at the community college and university level, as well as community-based organizations, including Rio Hondo College, Pasadena City College, UC Santa Barbara and The East Los Angles Community Union (TELACU).

In her current role as the Director of EOP&S/CARE at Rio Hondo College, Heba oversees one of the biggest programs in the state serving over 1600 students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. Heba works extensively with her faculty and staff to meet the needs of students by providing holistic services to meet their educational goals. In her previous role as Interim Dean at Pasadena City College, Heba managed various areas such as Associated Students, student clubs and organizations, Cross Cultural Center, Commencement, and several federally funded TRIO programs including Student Support Services, Upward Bound, Math/Science Upward Bound and Talent Search. As a product of the Upward Bound Program in high school and Educational Opportunity Program while in college, she relates to the challenges that low-income and first-generation students body face in attaining a higher education.

Heba’s immigration story, like many of her own students, was born out of her parents’ passion to provide a better opportunity for their children. She immigrated from Egypt with her parents at the age of 9, along with three of her younger siblings. After years of being undocumented and denied an asylum case, her family was finally able to gain residency following a Suspension of Deportation hearing. Heba credits these experiences for her passion to help the most marginalized students and communities.

Heba completed her Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Counseling and Guidance from Point Loma Nazarene University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Law & Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She currently lives in Monrovia with her husband and two children. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their extended family and friends.