Sobia Khan

Dr. Sobia Khan is a visionary higher education leader with nearly two decades of experience advancing student success, institutional transformation, and community impact. She currently serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Los Angeles City College, a vibrant institution in the heart of Hollywood that serves approximately 24,000 students across more than 100 academic, career, and vocational programs and has been part of the fabric of Los Angeles for 95 years. Most recently, she served as Provost of the East and Lake Nona Campuses at Valencia College, an inaugural Aspen Prize winner for Community College Excellence, where she supported more than 18,000 students. Dr. Khan brings a proven record of strategic leadership, innovation, and inclusive excellence.

Her career spans multiple leadership roles, including Dean for Academic Success at San Antonio College (Alamo Colleges District), winner of the 2021 Aspen Prize. At Dallas College, she served as Professor of English, Faculty Association Vice President, AANAPISI grant director, and co-lead of the Achieving the Dream initiative at Richland Campus. Across these roles, Dr. Khan has led institution-wide initiatives that are data-informed, equity-centered, research-focused, and outcomes-driven, resulting in measurable gains in student access, retention, and completion.

Sobia’s leadership is defined by her collaborative approach and her ability to align institutional priorities with community and workforce needs. She has cultivated strong partnerships with faculty, classified professionals, industry leaders, and community organizations to co-create programs that expand opportunity and drive innovation.

A passionate advocate for equity and student success, Dr. Khan’s scholarship and practice are deeply rooted in justice and inclusion. Her doctoral research explored transnational identity and belonging in educational spaces, and she co-edited Beyond Equity at Community Colleges: Bringing Theory into Practice for Justice and Liberation (Routledge, 2022), a national showcase of transformative equity practices.

Dr. Khan is a respected voice in the field, frequently invited to speak on topics such as strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, dual enrollment, and leadership. She serves on multiple community and professional boards and is an advocate for students—whether in boardrooms, legislative meetings, or at student-family events. Her leadership has attracted partnerships in student success initiatives, workforce pathways, and expanded academic offerings that align with regional needs.

She is inspired by the transformative power of education and is committed to shaping policies, systems, and cultures that close achievement gaps and empower every student and employee to thrive.