Carlos Cruz

Associate Vice Chancellor of Well Being and Social Support

Dr. Carlos Cruz is a people-first leader who believes education has the power to transform socioeconomic mobility — and he makes it his mission to open doors for students to experience this impact. As a first-generation college student himself, Dr. Cruz is passionate about advocating for the importance of higher education in underserved communities.

Dr. Cruz currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for student well-being and social support at Dallas College. In his role, he focuses on leading and managing student needs, fostering professional development opportunities, strategic planning and community partnerships. He chalks his success up to focusing on four key components: development, coaching, impact and leadership.

Leadership is a topic close to Dr. Cruz's heart as he believes it is crucial to personal development and the success of one's team. He draws his inspiration to lead others from his parents and his wife, using their love and support to show up for his people every day. 

When Dr. Cruz isn't inspiring students to seek out opportunities available through higher education, you can find him wandering the outdoors with his family or channeling his inner creativity through painting and woodworking. He looks forward to using his story as a means to influence community members, encouraging them to harness their full power and potential.