College of Alameda President Finalists
Meet the finalists for the role of President of College of Alameda at the upcoming public forum.
William T. Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. William “Terry” Brown currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Strategic Operations and Partnership Development for Connecticut State Community College (CT State). Prior to joining the CT State central administration, Dr. Brown served as Chief Executive Officer for Gateway Community College, Connecticut’s largest and most diverse community college prior to the formation of CT State.
Dr. Brown holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Delaware, and completed pre- and postdoctoral fellowships at the Yale School of Medicine.
Over the course of his 20-year higher education career, Dr. Brown has served as a part- and full-time faculty member, academic administrator, chief academic and student affairs officer, and college executive leader, and has effectively advanced numerous student success initiatives at multiple institutions. He is well-regarded for his work with student persistence and completion, faculty and staff development, strategic enrollment management, college policy and operations, accreditation, resource development and community engagement.
Melanie Dixon
Melanie Dixon, currently serves as the Executive Director of Project Attain. Prior to assuming this post in August 2023, Dixon served as the eighth president of American River College (ARC). Before her presidency, she served as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Student Success in the Los Rios Community College District (LRCCD). She brings extensive experience in higher education and DEI throughout her professional career.
She has a reputation for being action-oriented and places emphasis on collaboration with various stakeholders. Dixon previously served as Interim Vice President of Student Services at Sacramento City College (SCC), Interim Vice President of Innovation and Success at LRCCD, and Vice President of Student Services at Folsom Lake College (FLC). Previously, she served as Director of Retention Programs and Assistant Director of Diversity and Multicultural Student Services at Portland State University (PSU). She anchors her work in social justice and educational equity.
Dixon started her career in higher education in the classroom teaching Women’s Studies and College Success Courses. She has spent the latter part of her career straddling instruction and student services. In her current role she is steeped in efforts related to adult learners and workforce development and growth.
Dr. Becky Opsata
Dr. Becky Opsata has worked thirty years in higher education, first as a faculty member and then in administration. She currently serves as the Vice President of Instruction at Laney College, where she worked collaboratively on equity projects such as the Free College initiative, strategic planning, and instructional processes. Before coming to the Peralta District, Becky worked for fifteen years at Diablo Valley College as the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and as a faculty member in Communication Studies. Before moving to Northen California, Becky taught at California State University, Northridge. At both DVC and CSUN, she coached the debate teams.
Becky earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication, a master’s degree from Kansas State University, and an undergraduate degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Originally from Minnesota, Becky is now a committed Californian who enjoys travel in her spare time.