Why this college president came out of retirement to protect East LA students

East LA – Monte Perez resumed leadership after retirement to safeguard East Los Angeles College amid federal pressure on DEIA, immigration fears, and grant losses—while targeting persistence and transfer.

Monte Perez expected retirement to be quiet. Instead, the community college veteran accepted a call to step back into leadership at East Los Angeles College, a move shaped by anxiety in the student body and pressure on higher education.

After more than 50 years across the California Community College system—including presidencies at Los Angeles Mission College and Moreno Valley College—Perez had been winding down in 2024 when he received a request from Francisco Rodriguez. then chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District.. Rodriguez asked if Perez would serve as interim president of East LA College. the district’s largest campus enrolling about 38. 000 students.. Perez is from East Los Angeles, studied nearby, and initially planned to stay only until a permanent leader was found.

But the political moment shifted.. Following Donald Trump’s inauguration. federal actions and statements began to target higher education priorities including diversity. equity. inclusion and accessibility. while also raising fear around mass deportation.. For many East LA families. those threats didn’t feel abstract—they were personal. arriving through uncertainty about immigration enforcement and the safety of coming to campus.. Perez said he felt compelled to return because of his “experience and longevity in community colleges” and because the campus is woven into the fabric of his hometown.

Protecting students when fear follows them to campus

His approach blends legal readiness with direct reassurance.. Under East LA College policy. if Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows up. the situation is handled through a notification process that routes the matter to the office of the president. with attention to whether agents have appropriate judicial warrants.. Perez said the campus has not experienced major intrusions. but students remain concerned. as do their families. particularly after activity in public areas near campus.

Here the stakes are more than administrative.. Community colleges often serve students who are balancing work. family responsibilities. and—just as importantly—immigration and safety concerns that can affect attendance. enrollment decisions. and mental health.. In that environment, “welcome” becomes an operational goal, not a slogan.. Perez also said he wants employees to feel safe, recognizing that campus leadership influences the culture frontline staff experience daily.

Keeping DEIA and support programs alive

Financially, the pressure has shown up in grants.. He said the campus had a $3 million Hispanic-Serving Institution grant cut. though it received a one-year extension and was able to continue through 2026.. The grant’s focus includes apprenticeships in math and science tied to partnerships with local companies.. Perez indicated the college plans to backfill the work with state money if available. and he also described statewide efforts to press for a block grant model for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

This is where educational policy becomes tangible for students.. Grants like these can fund advising. career pathways. tutoring. and employer-connected training—elements that affect whether students see a credible route to employment and whether they persist through setbacks.. When funding timelines are shortened or disrupted. colleges can face hard tradeoffs: delay programs. reduce services. or shift staff time away from students who need it most.

Legal rights. counseling. and contingency plans

The continuity effort extends beyond the campus gates.. Perez said the college is reaching out to universities in Mexico—he named Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México—so that students who may be deported have a pathway to continue online instruction and remain enrolled in East LA College classes.. That kind of contingency planning reflects how immigration threats can function like an academic disruption policy imposed from outside the education system.

For students, these supports can be the difference between staying in college and falling away.. Community college students are already navigating complex barriers like transportation, costs, and flexible schedules.. When fear adds another layer. supportive structures—including mental health resources and credible legal guidance—can stabilize attendance and reduce the panic that comes with uncertainty.

Raising persistence. transfer. and completion

He pointed to a pattern of concern: males are not doing well, especially Black and brown males, including Latino and African American students who are not persisting from fall to spring. He also said transfer rates are lagging behind expectations.

As he framed it, the challenge is not only finding interventions but making them scalable.. Perez cited the Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS). a state-funded program for low-income students that provides financial assistance. dedicated counseling. individualized tutoring. and book vouchers.. He said EOPS students see better outcomes than similar students who are not in EOPS—but he also acknowledged a key constraint: EOPS requires full-time enrollment.

That matters in East LA College’s student reality.. Many students are part time because they work or take on family obligations.. Perez said the college wants to examine whether scheduling strategies could allow more students to enroll full time—an approach that could improve access to EOPS benefits and speed up completion.

Enrollment pressure, and the work of rebuilding trust

In a broader sense, enrollment is also about confidence.. When students feel their safety is uncertain or they worry programs will be stripped back. they may delay enrollment or choose alternatives.. Perez’s return from retirement. then. can be seen as both symbolic and practical: a leadership decision meant to reassure students while addressing academic and financial pressures.

The next test for East LA College is whether its support systems can be sustained. expanded. and aligned with student schedules. especially for part-time learners and groups facing the widest persistence gaps.. Perez’s plan suggests an emphasis on what community colleges do best when conditions are volatile: keep students connected to services. reduce barriers to staying enrolled. and treat equity as something that must be funded and managed—not merely promised.