Oceanside CA— MiraCosta College has hired three new deans to serve in the areas of instructional and student services. The newly appointed deans include Mike Fino as the dean of mathematics and sciences, Cynthia Rice Carroll as the associate dean of student services at the San Elijo Campus and Dr. Freddy Ramirez as interim dean of admissions and student support—together, the three have served the institution a total of 35 plus years in different capacities.
Mike Fino, Dean of Mathematics and Sciences
Mike Fino has been announced as the dean of mathematics and sciences. Fino has been serving as the interim dean since January 2016. His permanent position will begin July 1, 2016.
Fino was instrumental in leading the campus effort to develop a baccalaureate degree in biomanufacturing at MiraCosta College, slated to begin in fall 2017. During his tenure at MiraCosta College, Fino has also served as the department chair and lead faculty for the Biotechnoloy Program and was Academic Senate president, co-chair of Institutional Program Review Committee, co-chair of Steering Council, Accreditation Core Team writer, and a member of numerous other governance committees.
“It’s an incredible honor to be selected for this position to help lead the School of Mathematics and Sciences,” said Fino. “There are so many new and innovative initiatives to improve the personal successes for each of our students from basic skills course work up through the new bachelor’s degree in biomanufacturing.”
Fino earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in bioengineering at UC San Diego. Prior to entering the field of higher education as a faculty member, Fino served as a senior product development engineer at Smith and Nephew Wound Management and a bioprocess engineer and group lead at Advanced Tissue Sciences.
Cynthia Rice Carroll, Associate Dean of Student Services at San Elijo Campus
Having served as interim associate dean of Student Services since spring 2015, Cynthia Rice Carroll was officially named associate dean of student services at the San Elijo Campus in May 2016.
Carroll holds a master’s degree in international relations with a concentration in peace and conflict studies from Alliant International University and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies fro National University. She also attended Pepperdine University’s Organizational Leadership Program.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a student services team that doesn’t see student success as a job, but as a mission and a calling,” said Carroll. “I want to make sure all students feel welcome and safe, while providing opportunities for leadership development and engagement. I look forward to leading that effort on the San Elijo Campus.”
Carroll has considerable experience in higher education administration, having served as coordinator of MiraCosta College’s Institute for International Perspectives from 1990–1999, coordinator of Student Activities at UC San Diego, and development officer for the MiraCosta College Development and Foundation Office. Carroll also served as director of Educational Programs at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, Georgia and built a successful family-owned real estate management firm in Atlanta that landed a multi-year government contract in 2004.
Dr. Freddy Ramirez, Interim Dean, Admissions and Student Support
Longtime MiraCosta College counselor Dr. Freddy Ramirez was chosen as interim dean of Admissions and Student Support. Dr. Ramirez joined MiraCosta College in 2004 as a full-time general counselor.
Dr. Ramirez moved to the United States at 15 and spent three years working to help support his family. At age 18 he began his educational journey by taking English as a Second Language classes and then enrolling at a community college where he earned an associate degree. He then transferred to a four-year university and earned a bachelor’s degree in business.
Dr. Ramirez changed his career focus to education and in 1999 earned a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in multicultural counseling. He also earned an MBA from Cal State San Marcos in 2007.
In 2012, he finished his doctoral program in community college leadership from San Diego State University, which prepared him to serve twice as MiraCosta’s interim Dean of Counseling and Student Development.
“I’m really excited to work in an area of the college that has first contact with new students,” said Dr. Ramirez. “We have very capable leaders and talented staff in areas where students get their first college experience. We know our students come from different backgrounds with many different levels of preparation, so to be able to be part of a student’s college experience at the very beginning is something I look forward to.”
Dr. Ramirez will begin the yearlong interim position on July 1, 2016.