Dr. Isaac Zúñiga, also known as Dr. Z, is a first-generation college graduate and transformative community college leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing student success, academic excellence, workforce development, and economic mobility.

As Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), Dr. Zúñiga has led institutional reaffirmation of accreditation efforts with the Higher Learning Commission, strengthening a culture of evidence, accountability, and continuous improvement. He has advanced integrated approaches to program review, assessment, and institutional effectiveness, ensuring academic programs are aligned with labor market needs, transfer pathways, and measurable student learning outcomes.

A strong advocate for faculty engagement and shared governance, Dr. Zúñiga works collaboratively with faculty to strengthen curriculum, support teaching excellence, and align academic programs with workforce pathways that lead to high-value credentials and upward mobility. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to balancing academic quality, faculty support, and student-centered outcomes within complex governance environments.

His most recent role before coming to Daley College was at Richland Community College. There, he led strategic enrollment and student success efforts resulting in sustained enrollment and persistence growth, while expanding early college pathways and workforce-aligned programs that created clear, equitable routes to employment and long-term economic mobility.

Prior to Richland, Dr. Zúñiga held leadership roles at Kennedy-King College (City Colleges of Chicago) and South Mountain Community College (Maricopa Community Colleges), overseeing recruitment, advising, and student onboarding. He also serves nationally as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.

Beyond the institution, Dr. Zúñiga is an engaged community and national leader. He serves as an elected school board member and holds leadership roles with El Concilio, the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC), the HERDI Innovate Board, and CHICO (Central Hispanic and Immigrant Community Opportunities). Through CHICO, he advances initiatives that develop emerging Hispanic and Immigrant leaders, expand educational access, and connect individuals to economic opportunity strengthening community capacity and regional workforce vitality. 

Dr. Zúñiga’s national leadership development includes participation in the NCCHC Fellows Program, further strengthening his commitment to advancing Hispanic leadership pipelines in higher education. His contributions have been recognized through the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) Lifetime Achievement Award, and as a finalist for the AACC Rising Star Executive Award in 2024-2025.

Dr. Zúñiga holds an Associate of Arts from South Mountain Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies with a minor in Ethnic Studies from Arizona State University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctorate in Community College Leadership from National Louis University.