Fullerton College Appoints Dr. Carlos Ayon as Vice President of Instruction
Fullerton College is proud to announce that Dr. Carlos Ayon has been selected to serve as the incoming Vice President of Instruction, effective August 1, 2026.
Dr. Carlos Ayon is an experienced educator and administrator with over 20 years of leadership serving in the California Community College system. He brings a deep commitment to Fullerton College, its students and the mission of community college.
Dr. Ayon currently serves as the Fullerton College Dean of Business and Computer Information Systems (CIS), where he provides leadership for the Accounting, Business, Computer Information Systems, and Paralegal Studies programs. In this role, he has successfully supported student success, equity initiatives, instructional quality, workforce education, dual enrollment, Strong Workforce, Perkins and has cultivated meaningful collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. Dr. Ayon’s experience as a classroom instructor has also been an important aspect of his professional journey. He has remained closely connected to the realities of teaching, learning, classroom practice, and student experience.
Throughout his time at Fullerton College, Dr. Ayon has distinguished himself as an effective and transformative leader. He has worked to expand dual enrollment efforts during a pivotal period of growth – strengthening relationships with district partners, expanding trust, alignment and opportunity. Under his leadership, Fullerton College launched a highly successful eSports program and developed a new dual enrollment partnership in eSports with Anaheim Union High School District, creating educational pathways that engage a new generation of students while supporting enrollment growth.
Dr. Ayon also strengthened the college’s grants infrastructure and helped launch new grant development initiatives that will benefit Fullerton College for years to come.
Throughout his career, Dr. Ayon has built extensive experience in instructional leadership, curriculum, strategic enrollment management, accreditation, dual enrollment, workforce education, and grant development. His work has centered on strengthening instructional programs, supporting faculty-driven curriculum processes, improving scheduling practices, expanding student access, and aligning instructional planning with student success and completion.
Beyond his campus leadership, Dr. Ayon has continued to invest in his own professional growth through programs focused on equity, instructional leadership, and community college transformation. He is an alumnus of the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officer (CCCCIO) Advancing Leadership Institute for Instructional Vice Presidents in Equitable Education and a former Leadership Fellow with the National Community College Hispanic Council.
A proud alumnus, Dr. Ayon earned his Associate of Arts in History at Fullerton College before completing a Bachelor of Arts in History, a Master of Public Policy, a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA. His connection to Fullerton College is both professional and personal, having also served as a Student Trustee. His journey reflects the transformative power of community colleges to create opportunities and change lives.
His scholarship reflects his long-standing commitment to community college access, completion, transfer, and degree attainment. His dissertation examined the effectiveness of Associate Degrees for Transfer in supporting transfer, reducing excess unit accumulation, strengthening CSU transfer pathways, and improving baccalaureate completion and time-to-degree outcomes.
Most recently, Dr. Ayon was selected as a recipient of the 2026 NOCCCD North Star Award, an honor recognizing exceptional contributions to the District and community. A thoughtful, collaborative, and student-centered leader, Dr. Ayon’s leadership philosophy is grounded in respect, clarity, service, and shared responsibility. He believes effective instructional leadership requires active listening, thoughtful decision-making, support for faculty and staff, and a consistent commitment to keeping students at the center of our work.
His leadership will position Fullerton College as an innovative and transformative place to learn, grow and thrive and he will lead the college with clarity and compassion.
Dr. Carlos Ayon
Vice President, Instruction
