Del Mar College President and CEO Dr. Mark Escamilla has officially become the longest reigning president, recently reaching his 19th year as Del Mar College president.
Escamilla is a Del Mar alumnus and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, along with a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Escamilla initially wanted to go to law school before his career took a turn into higher education.
“After bumping my head around, I came to the realization that education was key. Then I thought back to my own experience and I said, ‘Del Mar College. That’s where it all started.’ So, I shifted from law school and went and got my doctorate and started working in higher ed.”
Escamilla felt prepared because of his time at Del Mar.
“I was a student here in the ‘80s and so it changed me,” Escamilla said. “Truly I want to make sure that the quality of the experience that you have here will last with you forever, like it has for me.”
When Escamilla began his tenure at Del Mar in 2008, the college had been cycling quickly through presidents. Escamilla knew there was lots of work to do, more than just structurally; they had to rebuild the trust within the foundation.
“The college went backwards in so many ways. So many people were so mad at each other,” Escamilla said. “Internally we had to quit fighting with ourselves.”
Structurally, the college has improved drastically, with the approval of two bonds in 2014 and 2016, that have led to the construction of the first new campus in 60 years. The Oso Creek Campus, located on Corpus Christi’s south side, includes a STEM building and Hospitality and Culinary institute.
Other improvements completed in Escamilla’s tenure include classroom and lab renovations, the addition of the General Academic and Music Building on Heritage Campus, renovations to the William F. White Library, and the repurposing of old facilities into modern use, like the Del Mar College Police Station and Memorial Classroom Building.
Although these are huge accomplishments, Escamilla said he is most proud of the level of trust that has developed at the college over the years.
“Elevating and having a more cultural impact … people trusting the college, believing in the college, both the students and faculty — that’s what I’m most proud of,” Escamilla said.
Escamilla explained that those first ten years were tough, and they faced challenges outside of the college alongside the internal struggles.
“People outside the college didn’t believe in what we were doing here,” he said. COVID, hurricanes, floods and droughts played a big part, but they had to just “take care of each other and keep going.”
“I think persistence, grit, determination, and trust, continual trust, that changes everything,” he explained.
Having to rely on outside entities is tough, especially when the state threw in challenges with funding and rule changes, Escamilla said. Coming up on his tenth legislative session, Escamilla explained that showing up is key. “I’ve been a part of writing and crafting legislation, in a small way and in a big way,” he said. “I found out that the way to do it: get in there as close as you can to the governor’s office, and hoop and holler as much as you possibly can.”
Escamilla believes the same with his own college; he expressed his belief in the students’ freedom of speech and expression and advocating for what they need. While the school’s Student Government Association hears concerns from students, Escamilla said that he needs to know the students’ needs, too.
“I had a student call me and tell me the elevator hasn’t been working for several weeks, I’m like ‘Thank you, I need to know that.’”
Student concerns for better food, schedules and lower price books are all concerns that Escamilla said the administration should know about. “We want to know, we want to hear, we know what some issues are, but we don’t know everything.”
“People first” is one of the overall aspects Escamilla emphasizes for the college, prioritizing student needs and creating “quality education that helps the students prosper, not just get by.”
Escamilla wants students to know that Del Mar is the place to come after high school.
“Come to Del Mar College and be you and explore and find out and be comfortable with what you’re exploring.”
Escamilla hopes students leave Del Mar College with more than just the initial education but also life skills and the ability to analyze things.
Whether playing cello, welding, taking care of patients, or going off to be teachers, doctors or lawyers, Escamilla has a passion for his student’s success.
“That’s what I want, for everybody to be able to go out there and not just survive but thrive.”
