Chris Bustamante, Ed.D. serves as President of Rio Salado College, the largest in headcount of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges and one of the premier online education institutions in the nation. Rio Salado serves 51,000 credit and an additional 13,000 non-credit students annually.
Dr. Bustamante was appointed to this position by MCCD Chancellor Rufus Glasper in June 2010 after serving as the college’s Interim President, as Vice President of Community Development and Student Services, and as Dean of Academic Affairs. Earlier in his career, he served in senior level government affairs positions for the Maricopa Community College District.
Dr. Bustamante is well-known as an advocate for increasing access to higher education opportunities. He has forged transformational partnerships with business, government and other educational providers, leading to innovations such as the first Communiversity to be established west of the Mississippi River.
Dr. Bustamante’s considerable other success stories throughout his Rio Salado career include:
- Oversight of the largest dual enrollment program in Arizona, serving 6,700 students annually through 54 partnering high schools
- Oversight of eight major capital projects for Rio Salado, including the building of the $4 million Adult Learning Center in the City of Avondale
- Securing several million dollars in land/grant capital funding for Adult Learning Center projects throughout Maricopa County
- Directing Military Partnerships that include GoArmyEd and Luke AFB Operations, serving more than 4,000 students annually
- Launching Rio’s Adult ACE/Puente Program.
In addition, Dr. Bustamante currently serves as an Adjunct Professor for Northern Arizona University in the Master’s of Educational Leadership Program.
Before joining the MCCCD, Dr. Bustamante served as the Assistant to the Superintendent for Community and Government Relations for the Phoenix Union High School District. Dr. Bustamante also served as a Legislative Aide to the Arizona House of Representatives from 1984-1987.
Education Credentials
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Northern Arizona University
Phoenix, Arizona
Doctorate, Educational Leadership
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Northern Arizona University
Phoenix, Arizona
Masters Degree, Educational Leadership
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University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Bachelors Degree, Business Administration; Finance
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Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona
Attended; University Transfer Program
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