Dr. Paula P. Pando is a bilingual daughter of Chilean immigrants, a first-generation college graduate, and a higher education leader whose life and work are grounded in the values of courage, hard work, and possibility. Her parents emigrated from Chile to the United States, and their journey has deeply shaped how she leads and how she understands the transformative power of education. For more than 30 years, Dr. Pando has devoted her career to creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and expanding what students and families believe is possible.

Since 2018, Dr. Pando has served as the fourth president of Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia, following a nearly 26-year career in higher education in New Jersey at Hudson County Community College and Saint Peter’s University. Under her leadership, Reynolds has undergone a significant transformation, strengthening student outcomes, expanding access, deepening partnerships with employers and community organizations, and restoring long-term fiscal stability through disciplined stewardship of the College’s resources. This combination of academic progress, financial strength, and strategic investment has positioned Reynolds as a vital force for educational opportunity and economic mobility throughout the Greater Richmond region. Nationally recognized for transformational leadership, Dr. Pando is a two-time Aspen Presidential Fellow and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Dr. Pando’s leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including the National Community College Hispanic Council’s 2026 Liderazgo Visionario (Visionary Leadership) Award, which she received as only the second recipient in the organization’s 40-year history. Her other honors include the YWCA Outstanding Woman Award, Virginia Business Magazine’s Women in Leadership Award, and the 2025 Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. She also serves as a Trustee of the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, and on the Bon Secours Mercy Health Richmond Board. Dr. Pando holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Rowan University, an M.A. in Education Administration from Saint Peter’s University, and a B.A. from Stockton University. At the heart of her leadership is a belief rooted in her own family’s journey: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not, and education has the extraordinary power to change that.