New Vice President of Instruction
President Omar Torres sent the following email to the college on May 7, 2025:
Dear De Anza College Community,
It is with great enthusiasm and confidence in our college's future that I announce the appointment of Dr. Ram Subramaniam as De Anza College's next Vice President of Instruction. His first day will be June 4, pending board approval on June 9.
Ram’s selection is the result of a national search that attracted many highly qualified candidates. Throughout this rigorous process, Ram distinguished himself through his exceptional vision, demonstrated leadership abilities, and unwavering commitment to student success and educational excellence.
An Impressive Career in Higher Education
Ram brings more than two decades of experience in higher education to this pivotal
role. His journey with our district began in 2008 when he joined De Anza College as
a chemistry instructor, a time many of you noted as marked by his passionate teaching,
dedicated mentorship of students, and support of faculty and staff. During this time,
he also served as department chair and Curriculum Committee chair, demonstrating early
in his career his capacity for academic leadership.
His administrative path led him to our sister college, where he served as Foothill’s Dean of STEM (later reorganized as Physical Science, Mathematics, and Engineering) before advancing to the position of acting Associate Vice President of Instruction. In each of these roles, Ram consistently demonstrated his ability to build consensus, implement strategic initiatives, and advance our educational mission while maintaining a steadfast focus on equity and inclusion.
Transformative Leadership and Commitment to Equity
What particularly impressed the hiring committees and me was Ram’s proven track record of transformative leadership centered on student success. At Foothill College, he worked collaboratively with faculty and staff to:
- Reimagine the Science Learning Institute (SLI) with a renewed emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating innovative pathways specifically designed to support and empower students from historically underrepresented groups
- Substantially expand dual enrollment opportunities across multiple school districts, with particular attention to serving historically marginalized and underserved student populations
- Develop and implement a groundbreaking partnership with Elmwood Correctional Facility, providing meaningful educational programming for justice-impacted students and demonstrating his belief in education as a transformative force
Since 2023, as Vice President of Student Success and Teaching Excellence at Hartnell College, Ram has further distinguished himself through accomplishments including:
- Developing a comprehensive yearlong schedule of course offerings paired with a strategic enrollment management plan that optimizes student access and institutional efficiency
- Successfully realigning Academic Affairs with Guided Pathways meta-majors, creating clearer educational trajectories for students and enhancing institutional effectiveness
- Establishing a new Workforce/CTE office that provides strategic direction in support of the region's economic development, building vital bridges between academic programs and community workforce needs
- Spearheading the creation and implementation of Zero Textbook Cost and Open Educational Resources initiatives, supporting faculty in developing low-cost instructional materials and dramatically reducing educational expenses for students
Scholarly Distinction
Ram’s academic credentials complement his administrative expertise. He earned a bachelor's degree in engineering and a master's degree in chemistry from the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology and Science, followed by a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Kentucky. His academic journey also includes distinguished service as a post-doctoral fellow in biochemistry at Case Western Reserve University. This robust academic foundation has informed his approach to educational leadership, combining rigorous intellectual standards with innovative pedagogical practices.
A Vision for De Anza's Future
In his interactions with our campus community during the selection process, Ram articulated a compelling vision for De Anza College's academic future – one that honors our institutional values while embracing the evolving needs of our diverse student population and the dynamic demands of our regional economy. His demonstrated commitment to educational innovation, faculty and staff professional development, and student-centered learning aligns perfectly with our strategic priorities as we continue to position De Anza College as a leader in academia, workforce incubation, and inclusive engagement. I am confident that under his guidance, our instructional programs will continue to thrive and evolve, serving our students with the excellence and dedication that have long been hallmarks of our institution. I look forward to the contributions he will make to our college's continued success.
Gratitude and Next Steps
I extend my sincere gratitude to the search committees for their diligence and thoughtful engagement throughout this important process. I also wish to thank all members of our campus community who participated in the open forums and provided valuable feedback that informed this decision. Your involvement reflects our shared commitment to De Anza’s institutional values and participatory governance.
I would like to also take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to Lydia Hearn for her exemplary service as our Interim Vice President of Instruction. During this critical period of transition in our senior leadership team, Lydia has provided the steady hand and consistent vision our college needed while simultaneously embracing innovative opportunities for institutional advancement.
Under Lydia's thoughtful guidance, our instructional programs maintained their high quality while adapting to emerging challenges. She skillfully stewarded several key initiatives, including co-chairing De Anza’s strategic planning development and implementation, and ensuring the college’s acceptance into both the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Academy and Vision-Aligned Reporting (VAR) Academy, which will benefit our students for years to come. Her institutional knowledge and unwavering commitment to our educational mission proved invaluable during this transitional chapter in our college's history.
Lydia had expressed to me a desire to return to the classroom, and I am very pleased that she has also accepted my offer to continue her work in support of Instruction by serving as faculty coordinator for strategic innovation and development.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Ram Subramaniam back to De Anza College as our permanent VPI and thanking Lydia Hearn for her interim service.
With optimism and hope for our bright future,
Omar
Omar Torres, Ed.D.
President, De Anza College