Omar Orihuela keeps the door to his office open, he said, just as he always tries to open doors for students who rely on him.
Many people know EOPS as a student service that grants money for books. What they may not know is that the program runs much deeper and so does the story of the man who supervises it.
Orihuela, 41, called himself a proud staff member and former student of Southwestern College who was selected as the new director of EOPS. His journey led him back to SWC. Orihuela has been the official director of the EOPS program at SWC since May after being interim director for a year.
“I’m not just here to give you books, but to help you graduate from Southwestern College,” he said.
Although he is the son of a principal and a teacher, he said, it took him a while to understand the importance of education. In his teen years, he confessed, he was a longhaired kid who did not like school and spend his free time rocking out with his band, which once opened for the Mexican rock band Maná.
“I liked the message they had… and the fact that they were from Mexico,” he said. “We grew up listening to music in English… so just to be able to hear something in Spanish was nice.”
Orihuela stopped playing when he moved to the United States, though he says he still enjoys the music. As his appreciation for education began to grow, he faced challenges.
“Education in Mexico is very different from here,” he said.
As a Spanish speaker, Orihuela found it challenging to start classes and write essays, he said.
“I took ESL,” he said. “I started taking one class one at a time.”
Adjustments quickly came. Soon he earned an AA in public communications from SWC, a BA in organized leadership at Azusa Pacific University and a Master’s in educational leadership at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Orihuela said he draws much of his inspiration from other people. He keeps a poster of Cesar Chavez in his office to remind him of the hard work required to succeed.
“What he did and how he fought for people is remarkable to me.”
Orihuela also draws inspiration from those close to him, crediting his family for some of his success.
“My mom, she taught me how to ask (for help).”
Orihuela said he has the skills to make connections with students and workers. Sylvia Felan-Gonzales, Orihuela’s former counselor at SWC, is now his colleague.
“He was always open to questions,” she said, “his door was always open.”
Students like Ivonne Meza, 18, business administration, praised his commitment.
“He’s very helpful… he’s always looking out for us,” she said.
Orihuela said he has goals.
“I’m very ambitious,” he said. “The next step would become a dean sometime.”
He said he hopes to start a doctorate program soon.
In the meantime, though, he said he is more concerned with making the EOPS program the best it can be.
“Last year we graduated 177 students… I want to target 200 students this year,” he said. Part of that his optimism comes from a better budget, he said.
“In 2009 we lost 40 percent of funding. We went from… over $2 million to less than $1.5 million. We were serving 3,000 students… we went to 1,300. This year we were restored (to previous funding).”
Orihuela said he wants students to take advantage of the opportunities and he highlights his devotion to his job.
“I’ve been here as an employee and as a student. That holds a special place in my heart. Southwestern College is unique to me.”