Governance

State Chair

Welcome

A Message from the State Chair


Welcome to the American Council on Education Women’s Network of Southern California (ACE WNSC). As part of a national system of state networks, ACE WNSC is dedicated to advancing, connecting, and supporting women and underrepresented leaders across higher education. Our work is grounded in the belief that leadership is strengthened through community, shared learning, and intentional support.

Higher education is navigating a period of significant challenge and change. Leaders are responding to political polarization, shifting narratives around equity and inclusion, financial pressures, workforce transitions, and increasing demands on time, visibility, and emotional labor. For many women, these conditions have narrowed opportunities for connection and leadership development at the very moment when support, mentorship, and collective wisdom are most needed.

ACE WNSC serves as a vital space for connection and resilience. The Network brings together women across institutions, roles, and career stages to foster leadership development, professional growth, and meaningful relationships. Through conferences, mentorship, and shared dialogue, we provide opportunities to reflect, learn, and lead with greater confidence and clarity—while remaining anchored in our collective commitment to advancing women in higher education.

Over the past several years, ACE WNSC has strengthened its organizational foundation through the development of bylaws, a strategic plan, and an engaged board and committee structure. These efforts have positioned the Network to respond thoughtfully to today’s environment while remaining focused on its core mission: identifying, developing, encouraging, advancing, linking, and supporting women in higher education leadership.

I am honored to serve as State Chair during this important chapter in the Network’s history, having been involved with ACE WNSC for several years as an ACE Fellow, board member, and committee chair. In my professional role as Vice President of Instruction at Orange Coast College, and through earlier work as a faculty member and dean at a women’s college, I have seen firsthand the power of mentorship, community, and inclusive leadership. I invite you to engage fully with ACE WNSC as we continue strengthening pathways for women to lead, influence, and thrive across Southern California.

About

Tara Giblin, Ph.D., is the State Chair and Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education Women’s Network of Southern California. She currently serves as Vice President of Instruction at Orange Coast College, where she is deeply committed to the community college mission and to creating inclusive, student-centered learning environments. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a doctoral degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia. Her career spans faculty, dean, and executive leadership roles, shaped by a belief in education as a powerful force for improving lives and expanding opportunity. As a Fulbright Scholar in Kathmandu, Nepal, Dr. Giblin witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of education and mentorship, particularly for women and underserved communities, an experience that continues to inform her equity-minded leadership. She later completed an American Council on Education Fellowship, gaining a national perspective on the challenges facing higher education and the importance of leadership development, collaboration, and professional networks.
Throughout her career, Dr. Giblin has worked to build systems that support faculty, staff, and students while advancing pathways for leadership and growth. Her long-standing involvement with ACE WNSC as an ACE Fellow, board member, and committee chair reflects her commitment to fostering community, mentorship, and shared leadership among women in higher education. These experiences shape her view that organizations like ACE WNSC are especially vital in today’s complex higher education environment, providing connection, support, and space for women leaders to learn, lead, and thrive.

Dr. Tara Giblin

State Chair and Board Chair

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