Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board President Debbie Justeson named 2025 Asian Pacific Islander Leader of Influence

 

 

El Cajon, CA – The San Diego Business Journal has named Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board President Debbie Justeson a 2025 Asian Pacific Islander Leader of Influence. In May, the San Diego Business Journal is celebrating and honoring influential Asian Pacific Islander leaders by recognizing their contributions and dedication to the San Diego business community. Board President Justeson was honored for her contributions to higher education and the East County community.

 

Debbie Justeson is serving her fourth term as a trustee, and her second term as President of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board, overseeing East County’s largest institution of higher education. She is the first Asian American to serve in this leadership role, and has been pivotal in the District’s ability to serve nearly 20,000 students each year.

 

Trustee Justeson has been an educator in East County for over three decades, teaching at institutions from the preschool to university levels. As a Trustee for the last 15 years, her leadership has been pivotal in overseeing $605 million in capital construction projects funded through the voter-approved Propositions R and V Bonds. Under her leadership, the District has implemented new technology, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting basic needs and inclusive practices. She has served on the Executive Board of the California Work Experience Education (CAWEE), representing the importance of community colleges in training the workforce.

 

A first generation college graduate and daughter of Japanese-American immigrants, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to building and strengthening our community. President Justeson is a fierce advocate for student success, which has a direct impact on the economic growth in the region.

 

About the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD)

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) includes Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, which offer hundreds of degree and certificate programs, including Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Advanced/Basic Certificates. GCCCD is the largest provider of higher education and job training in East County, and is a top transfer pathway to San Diego State University. The colleges lead the way in developing educational programs, classes and services that meet the needs of the community of learners, and prepare students to meet changing community and workforce needs, while advancing social justice and economic mobility. Learn more and enroll at www.gcccd.edu/enroll.

 

####