Mayor Stanton Appoints Phoenix College Faculty Member as Sr. Policy Advisor on Education

(PHOENIX, Ariz., Feb. 1, 2012) – City of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton has appointed Phoenix College faculty member Trino Sandoval to serve as his Senior Policy Advisor on Education.

In the advisory role, Sandoval will convene and facilitate stakeholders around the Mayor’s education agenda, which includes strengthening pre-school programs, expanding afterschool programs, improving secondary and post-secondary alignment and collaboration, and seeking a greater university presence in Phoenix. He began his part-time role today. Dr. Sandoval will continue to teach a class at Phoenix College.

“Support for our schools and the future of our city go hand in hand, which is why I have made education a key priority in my administration,” said Mayor Stanton. “With his vast experience and community connections, Dr. Sandoval is the perfect person to lead our education initiative.”

Not only will Dr. Sandoval advise the Mayor and City of Phoenix management on strategies to implement the agenda, he will coordinate with local and national education leaders and other stakeholders on all issues related to education.

“I’m honored to be chosen for this position and I’m looking forward to working on these challenging issues,” said Dr. Sandoval. “Creating successful educational outcomes for our youth is the best investment the city can make because it will pay off tenfold in the future.”

Since 1996, Dr. Sandoval has taught Spanish and Latin American literature classes in the college’s Department of Liberal Arts. During his tenure at PC, he has held many roles and assignments, including serving as Associate Dean of Continuing Education and Community Service, Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages, Interim Director of the Raul H. Castro Institute and Director of Title V, Department of Education Grant to Hispanic Serving Institutions.

Dr. Sandoval received his Ph.D. in Spanish from Arizona State University in 2003 and also has a Master’s of Arts in Spanish from ASU. He received his bachelor of arts in Spanish and Latin American Studies from California State University, Chico.

“The Mayor made an excellent choice in naming Dr. Sandoval to this position,” said Dr. Anna Solley, president of Phoenix College. “He has been an invaluable member of our college and he’ll bring great insight on what can be done to improve the education levels of our city’s young people.”

In November 2011, the City of Phoenix, Phoenix College, and Phoenix Union High School District received a $600,000 grant from the Lumina Foundation for “Degree Phoenix,” a program aimed at Latino youth that supports and enhances pathways from high school to college and college to workforce. In his policy advisor role, Dr. Sandoval will serve as a coaching fellow for the Lumina Grant, a liaison to education funders such as the Lumina Foundation and Gates Foundation, and liaison for the Mayor’s Futures Forum on Education with other Arizona mayors.