Our 2025 EDI Champion Award Winner
Dr. Michelle Fowles
Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Los Angeles Valley College
Dr. Michelle Fowles is an exemplary leader and champion in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. With over 20 years of experience in higher education and community colleges, she is known for fostering data-informed decision-making and institutional accountability to support student success, enrollment management, and institutional improvement.
She is a first-generation college student, having taken her first sociology class at Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) while still in high school. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology at Stanford University, where she conducted extensive independent research. Dr. Fowles later earned her Master of Arts in sociology from Princeton University and her EdD from UCLA. Her deep understanding of the student experience, combined with her academic background, fuels her passion for eliminating barriers to success.
Since 2009, Dr. Fowles has served as the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at LAVC, where she leads efforts to enhance the college's performance through data-driven strategies and continuous improvement initiatives. She ensures that data is not only provided but also analyzed through an equity lens and made accessible to all. Currently serving on the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) committee, she has been instrumental in innovating the program mapper, linking it to the course schedule so students can seamlessly plan their academic paths. This initiative reflects her commitment to making the community college system more navigable, especially for underrepresented students.
A dedicated advocate for equity and inclusion, Dr. Fowles plays a leading role in LAVC’s antiracism efforts and serves on the campus Umoja Advisory Committee and the Accreditation Steering Committee. Since 2021, she has led the LAVC Anti-Racism Committee, driving meaningful dialogue, advocacy, and action to support underrepresented student groups. She is committed to fostering inclusive spaces for difficult but constructive conversations, ensuring that all voices are heard.
Beyond LAVC, Dr. Fowles serves on the Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor’s Black/African American Student Affairs Advisory Committee. She has also contributed her expertise to The RP Group’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and the African American Transfer Tipping Point Project Advisory Group.
Dr. Fowles is also a mentor and advocate for faculty and staff. She has collaborated with the LAVC’s Professional Development Coordinator to create workshops and surveys addressing unconscious bias, antiracism, and equity. She actively supports professional development and has helped women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ professionals advance in their careers through guidance and encouragement. As an ally, she shows up, provides data to inform discussions, participates in committees, and offers a safe and supportive space.
Dr. Fowles’ dedication to institutional effectiveness and her passion for education continue to positively influence the LAVC community and beyond.
The RP Group is proud to honor Dr. Michelle Fowles’ leadership with the 2025 EDI Champions Award!