Carlos Peñaloza

Carlos Peñaloza became chancellor at Leeward Community College on July 1, 2019. He has worked actively with underserved populations in higher education and has more than a decade of biomedical research experience. His personal and professional focus has been to promote students’ success and upward financial mobility.

Peñaloza has more than 13 years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education institutions. He served as provost and chief academic officer at Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences in Kansas City; as vice chancellor of instruction and chief academic officer at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City; assistant vice president of academic affairs and acting dean of Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Health at Schenectady County Community College; college dean, dean of health sciences, chair of healthcare administration, and assistant/associate professor of liberal arts and sciences, biology at Briarcliffe College.

Peñaloza came to the United States from his native Venezuela to pursue his education. He holds an associate degree in liberal arts and sciences from Queensborough Community College; a BA in biology from Queens College of the City University of New York; and master of philosophy in biology and doctor of philosophy in biology degrees from the City University of New York.