New Vice President of Student Services
President Torres sent the following email to the college on June 26, 2025.
Dear De Anza College Community,
After a highly competitive process and with thanks to the campus community for their input, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michele LeBleu-Burns as De Anza College's next Vice President of Student Services. Her first day in the role will be Sept. 1, pending board approval.
Michele's selection represents the culmination of a comprehensive search process that attracted outstanding candidates from across the nation. Throughout this rigorous process, Michele distinguished herself through her leadership experience, care for our students, understanding of our institutional culture, and unwavering dedication to equity, diversity, inclusion and student achievement.
A Distinguished Career Dedicated to Student Success
Michele brings over 27 years of transformative leadership experience in higher education to this critical role. Her journey with De Anza College began in 2007, when she joined our campus as Dean of Student Development and EOPS/CARE/NextUp – a position she has held with distinction for 18 years. During this time, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to create inclusive, student-centered environments that foster both academic and personal success for our diverse student population. She received the De Anza College President's Award for Outstanding Service in 2024 and the De Anza College Associated Student Body Senate Outstanding Service Award in 2010.
Her administrative expertise extends beyond De Anza, having previously served at Evergreen Valley College in multiple capacities, including strategic planning process manager, program director for the federal TRIO grant, and outreach/recruitment specialist. This breadth of experience across different institutions has provided her with valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing California community colleges.
Transformative Leadership and Innovation
What particularly impressed the search committee and me was Michele's proven track record of implementing innovative programs and leading institutional change. Her accomplishments at De Anza College include:
- Mental Health Leadership: Initiating the development of the campus Mental Health and Wellness Center (MHWC) and collaborating with Foothill College to implement 24/7 mental health teletherapy services for students throughout the district
- Campus Safety Innovation: Establishing the De Anza College Harm Evaluation Assessment and Reduction Team (HEART) to promote student mental health and campus safety
- Program Excellence: Leading the transformation and implementation of revised student services comprehensive and annual program review processes by adopting the Council for Advancement of Standards (CAS) program evaluation criteria throughout all student services areas of oversight
- Pioneering Student Innovation: Facilitating the implementation of the De Anza Student Government (DASG) e-bike loan program, the first program of its kind in the nation at a community college, demonstrating her commitment to addressing students' holistic needs
Resource Development and Strategic Planning
Michele's expertise in resource development has been key to expanding opportunities for our students. She has secured over $1 million in funding through various grants and partnerships, including a $500,000 California Community Colleges’ Mental Health Services Grant; a $100,000 grant for foster youth services from the former Silicon Valley Children's Fund; and ongoing EOPS funding totaling approximately $400,000 through the Foothill-De Anza Foundation.
Her strategic planning abilities were initially demonstrated when she served as strategic planning process manager at Evergreen Valley College, where she provided consultation and leadership to division deans and directors while implementing campuswide transformation initiatives. At De Anza, she has continued this work by serving as co-lead for the Student-Centered Instruction and Student Services strategic planning subcommittee in support of our most recent Educational Master Plan. She was recently accepted into the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Vision-Aligned Reporting Academy, further strengthening her expertise in integrated planning and continuous improvement.
Comprehensive Student Services Leadership
Michele's experience encompasses a range of student services, including oversight of EOPS, CARE, NextUp, CalWORKs, Student Health Services, Mental Health and Wellness, College Life and Student Judicial Affairs. She serves as our campus ADA Compliance Officer and has extensive experience with federal and state reporting requirements, ensuring our continued compliance and accountability.
Her expertise in managing complex budgets from multiple revenue streams, combined with her skills in integrated budget planning, position her well to navigate the fiscal challenges facing higher education while maintaining our commitment to student success.
A Vision Aligned with Our Mission
Throughout the selection process, Michele articulated a compelling vision for student services that aligns perfectly with De Anza College's mission to prepare socially responsible leaders through a multicultural, academically rich environment. Her commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and promoting equitable access and outcomes for historically underserved students reflects our institutional values and strategic priorities.
Her collaborative approach to leadership, extensive experience with shared governance and collegial consultation processes, and ability to work effectively across functional areas make her ideally suited to serve as a key member of our senior leadership team as we address the evolving challenges and opportunities in higher education.
Gratitude and Next Steps
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the search committee members for their dedication and thoughtful engagement throughout this important process. I also thank all members of our campus community who participated in the open forums and provided valuable feedback that informed this decision. Your involvement exemplifies our commitment to participatory governance and shared decision-making.
Michele's appointment represents not only recognition of her qualifications and achievements but also continuity in our commitment to student-centered leadership. Her deep knowledge of our institution, combined with her vision for the future, positions De Anza College to continue advancing our mission of educational excellence and equity.
Michele will be taking over for Dr. Rob Mieso, whose last day on campus will be Sept. 26 and will be retiring on December 30. I want to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to Rob for his dedicated service to De Anza College in this vital leadership role. Throughout his tenure as Vice President of Student Services, Rob has been an unwavering advocate for our students, consistently working to enhance the programs and services that support their academic success and personal growth. His commitment to equity, innovation and collaborative leadership has left a lasting impact on our campus community and the thousands of students who have benefited from his vision and dedication.
Rob's contributions to our college extend far beyond his administrative responsibilities – he has been a trusted colleague, mentor and champion for student-centered excellence. As he transitions to new opportunities, we wish him continued success and fulfillment in his future endeavors. De Anza College is better because of Rob’s exemplary service and the positive difference he has made in the lives of our students and our campus community.
I would also like to express my appreciation to everyone in Student Services – classified professionals, faculty and managers – who provide exceptional service to our students, and I know will continue to do so during this transition period and beyond.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Michele LeBleu-Burns on her appointment as Vice President of Student Services. I am confident that under Michele’s continued leadership, our student services will thrive and evolve, serving our students with the excellence and dedication that define De Anza College.
With excitement for the new possibilities that lie ahead,
Omar
Omar Torres, Ed.D.
President, De Anza College