Fullerton College Welcomes Nine Leaders this 2025-26 Academic Year
Fullerton College is thrilled to welcome 9 leaders to its campus. Our new leaders join the Hornet familia with a wealth of knowledge and experience that will elevate students to success and flourish. Let’s give a big welcome to our new Fullerton College leaders.
Nichole Crockrom
Interim Director, Student Sucess Advocate Program
Nichole Crockrom is a dedicated higher education leader with over a decade of experience advancing equity, student success and cross-campus collaboration. Currently serving as Interim Student Success Advocate Coordinator at Fullerton College, she led the design and launch of the college’s first Student Success Advocate Program, an equity-minded initiative supporting student retention through data-informed outreach and personalized guidance. She hired, trained and now supervises a team of over 30 student advocates while managing program operations, professional development and strategic partnerships.
As Classified Senate President from 2022 to 2024, Crockrom played an instrumental role in campus-wide initiatives, including Fullerton College’s partnership with Sacramento State’s historic Black Honors College, the first of its kind in the nation. Her leadership was also highlighted in the college’s Shattering Ceilings feature, which recognized female leaders across campus advocating for equity and representation in senior roles.
Crockrom holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Pepperdine University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Ohio University. With additional experience in campus safety, fiscal oversight and training development, she brings a broad, operation-informed perspective to all her work.
Outside the office, she is a passionate traveler, hiker and movie enthusiast. A loyal WWE fan and curious foodie, Crockrom’s always up for trying something new. Most of all, she cherishes spending time with her family and friends—a joy she considers not just a hobby, but a way of life.
Dr. Deniz Fierro
Director, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs and FYSI Program
Dr. Deniz Fierro is an experienced equity-driven educational leader who has held various leadership roles at North Orange County Community District (NOCCCD) since 2018. With over 17 years of experience in P-12 and higher education, Dr. Fierro brings a deep commitment to student success, inclusive leadership and social justice. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), where her research focused on institutional practices that support first-generation, low-income Latinx students.
Dr. Fierro has also led large-scale equity initiatives, developed programs from the ground up and overseen cross-functional teams of over 50 faculty and staff. Her previous roles include interim dean of social sciences at Cypress College and director of Educational Partnerships and the Promise Program. Most recently, she served as the interim director of Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE), Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) and CalWORKs at Fullerton College. She is also a part-time lecturer at CSUF within the same doctoral program working alongside future equity-minded researchers and higher education leaders. As a first-generation, multi-ethnic daughter of immigrants, Dr. Fierro leads with authenticity, cultural humility and a student-centered philosophy rooted in equity, access and transformative leadership.
Joel Gonzalez
Manager, Capital Projects
Joel Gonzalez holds over 10 years of construction experience with General Contractor and as an owner representative. He has also worked on various projects ranging from $500k to $71M.
Before joining our Hornet family, Gonzalez served at CSUF as a Project Manager on projects, including the second-floor renovation of McCarthy Hall, design and construction of the College of Visual Arts renovation, the kinesiology and athletics pool replacement and more. He was also a Project Manager for the Disneyland Resort, where he supported Downtown Disney locations such as Splitsville Luxury Lanes, Salt and Straw Ice Cream and Naples Ristorante Bar and Napolini Pizzeria.
Gonzalez holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in engineering management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. A proud supporter of higher education, Gonzalez believes in the mission of supporting students and positively impacting our surrounding communities.
On his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and supporting his daughter’s dance classes. His family also finds joy in volunteering at their local church and giving back to their community.
Angela Henderson
Interim Dean, Division of Natural Sciences
Angela Henderson has been appointed as the Interim Dean of Natural Sciences at Fullerton College. Bringing over 20 years of experience in community college education, Henderson’s career is rooted in student success, equity and collaborative leadership.
Henderson has served in multiple leadership capacities at Fullerton College as a tenured professor and coordinator for the North Orange County Community College District’s Study Abroad program. During our college’s transition to remote learning, she also trained many faculty peers in the Online Teaching Certificate Program to ensure online course accessibility across campus. As a leader, she has demonstrated her strength in program development and cross-campus collaboration through extensive experience supporting interdisciplinary programs, managing faculty development and guiding equity-focused instructional practices.
At Fullerton College, Henderson is known for her collegial leadership style, ability to build trust across departments and dedication to providing students with high-impact, equitable learning experiences. She also holds numerous professional certificates in inclusive pedagogy, race-conscious teaching, equity and digital literacy.
Henderson holds two master’s degrees in English and reading education from CSUF.
In her personal time, she enjoys traveling, cycling, pickleball and devoting precious time to her family and two granddaughters.
Marshall Johnson
Special Projects Director, Men of Color Programs
Marshall Johnson is a dedicated educator with a proven track record of empowering students in their pursuit of higher education. With a strong belief in the importance of representation, Johnson actively encourages students to explore their passions, pursue their dreams and cultivate leadership within their communities.
For the past two years, Johnson has excelled as the Special Project Manager of A2MEND (African American Male Education Network and Development), a program dedicated to improving the academic success and personal development of African American male students through mentorship, scholarships and community engagement. Additionally, his leadership has been pivotal in Fullerton College’s partnership with MOCAN (Men of Color Action Network), an initiative focused on addressing the challenges faced by men of color in higher education. MOCAN raises awareness of systemic barriers and collaborates with various stakeholders to empower men of color and promote their visibility and success across various sectors.
Johnson also contributes to student development as an assistant coach for the state champion Fullerton College men’s basketball team. His coaching philosophy emphasizes creating a safe space for young men to express themselves, share their experiences and support each other. This commitment to fostering belonging and empowerment has resulted in numerous success stories, where students have not only achieved academic excellence but have also developed strong identities, resilience and personal growth.
Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Azusa Pacific University, as well as a Master of Arts in athletic administration and a Master of Science in exercise science, both from Concordia University.
Rachel Reyes
Special Program Director, APIDA Amplified
A second-generation Filipino American, Rachel Reyes aims to uplift all students at Fullerton College through culturally responsive programming that builds and celebrates our communities. Before joining the Fullerton College team, Reyes served as a mental health clinician, master’s in social work Intern at Long Beach City College. They continue to support the wellness of diverse and vibrant student populations in their current role as Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Amplified Special Program Director. After serving as APIDA Amplified Special Projects Manager this past year, Reyes is excited to continue laying the foundation for this new program as it enters its second year.
Reyes earned their master’s degree in social work from California State University, Long Beach, their Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Psychological Sciences from University of California, Irvine, and their Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from University of California, Santa Barbara.
Having grown up in Orange County, California, they enjoy rock climbing, ceramics and crochet and finding good restaurants.
Jeanette Rodriguez
Dean, Division of Humanities
Since joining the Fullerton College familia in 2015, Jeanette has served in various leadership roles, including Interim Dean of Humanities, Coordinator of the Communication Studies Department, Faculty Senate President and chair/co-chair of several key college and district committees. Her steady leadership and collaborative spirit have helped shape important institutional efforts around governance, equity and student success.
Rooted in her own experiences as a first-generation Latina and English as a Second Language (ESL) student, Rodriguez has championed efforts to reduce barriers and increase access, particularly for English learners and historically marginalized students.
Her shared governance experience and advocacy for inclusive decision-making have made her a trusted voice across the college and district. She is also deeply committed to building a Humanities Division where collaboration thrives, faculty are supported and empowered and students from all backgrounds are prepared to succeed.
Rodriguez holds both a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in communication studies with an emphasis in intercultural/Latino/a communication and rhetoric from CSUF. Her academic and professional background deeply informs her vision for humanities education as a space for empowerment, dialogue and inclusion.
Outside of her professional life, her proudest accomplishment is being the mother to her two children, Aaron and Aaliyah. Whether hiking, enjoying Disney trips or spending time with loved ones, she values quality time with family and community.
Camille Serrano
Special Projects and Communications Manager, APIDA Amplified
Camille Serrano earned her master’s degree in communications from Johns Hopkins University in 2025, where she helped establish the Graduate Student Association for the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Advanced Academic Programs to strengthen student representation and community. Before graduate school, she completed her undergraduate studies at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on a full-ride scholarship, a path made possible by her start at Fullerton College. During her time at Fullerton College, she was named Distinguished Student of the Year and served on the Associated Students Executive Board.
In addition to her academic achievements, Serrano has built a career in the nonprofit and political communications space, mobilizing students to vote and managing communications strategies for candidates and civic initiatives. Now back at Fullerton College as a full-time staff member with APIDA Amplified, she is passionate about empowering students and amplifying their voices through programming and support services.
Leona Vassale
Director, Disability Support Services
Leona Vassale brings 22 years of experience in higher education, specifically in disability support services. A leader at heart, she also holds 16 years of experience in collective bargaining, labor relations and conflict resolution.
Before joining us at Fullerton College, Vassale participated in accreditation at nearly every level of college governance. She was also an instrumental part of numerous outreach efforts and cross training collaboration with other student services programs. She was Vice President for the California State Employees Association Chapter 535 at Norco College. Throughout her career, she was also a Support Services Specialist at Riverside Community College District.
Vassale holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Redlands and organizational psychology from UMass Global. She also holds a plethora of graduate work in clinical psychology, with her research specializing in marriage and family therapy and professional clinical counseling.
On her free time, Vassale loves to indulge in music, movies and ice hockey. She also enjoys spending time with her three daughters, two dogs and cats and her tarantula, Dorothy.
