Intro
Dr. Veronica Hipolito is the fifth president of South Mountain Community College (SMCC), assuming leadership on July 1, 2024, and the first Latina to serve in the role. With more than 25 years of experience across university and community college settings, Dr. Hipolito is a student-centered leader committed to expanding opportunity, advancing equity, and strengthening the systems that help students and communities thrive.
As a first-generation college student with family roots in South Phoenix, Dr. Hipolito brings both personal understanding and professional experience to her leadership. She believes education can transform lives—not only for individual students, but also for their families and communities. Her vision for SMCC is grounded in creating a culture where students feel supported, connected, and empowered to achieve their goals.
Dr. Hipolito’s leadership centers on collaboration, community partnership, and removing barriers to student success. Throughout her career in the Maricopa Community College District, including as vice president of student affairs at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and interim president at Scottsdale Community College, she has worked to develop structural supports that make educational pathways more accessible and equitable. She was also part of the team that established the award-winning CCC2NAU program, creating a streamlined pathway for Coconino Community College students to continue their education at Northern Arizona University.
Dr. Hipolito remains deeply engaged in her community and the broader field of higher education. She is a champion for students and the community through board service and her role on the American Association of Community Colleges Student Agency, Success, Learning Pathways, and Wellbeing Commission. She was also selected for the Aspen Institute’s 2023–24 Rising Presidents Fellowship, recognizing high-potential community college leaders committed to student equity and achievement.
A graduate of Northern Arizona University and Gwynedd Mercy University, Dr. Hipolito holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in community counseling, and a doctorate in higher education leadership. Her contributions to education have been recognized through honors including the 2018 Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council Community Leadership Award and induction into the Northern Arizona University College of Education Hall of Fame in 2021.
At the heart of Dr. Hipolito’s leadership is a belief in the power of people and partnerships. She is working to ensure that SMCC is a trusted partner and remains a place where students are seen, supported, and equipped to turn educational opportunity into lasting impact for themselves, their families, and their communities.