Bernadine Fong, Ph.D.

Managing Senior Partner, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

As an Achieving the Dream Coach, Bernadine Fong consults with community colleges with a particular interest in academic leadership, organizational development, and community colleges as agents for educational equity.

Prior to her role with Achieving the Dream, Dr. Fong had been a Visiting Scholar of the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research, Stanford University. Previously she worked as Vice President for Instruction and Student Services, Foothill College.  She directs Foothill College foundation’s developmental mathematics initiative for 30 community colleges and universities in eight states.  Through this initiative, the foundation is building a networked improvement community to increase student success through the improvement of the practice in teaching.  Dr. Fong began her 36-year tenure at Foothill College in the Silicon Valley, as a psychology and child development professor, and has authored two textbooks in these fields. She served as president for 12 years, retiring in June 2006.

Dr. Fong has served on countless boards and commissions; she is a past trustee of Stanford University and the Carnegie Foundation; she was on the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors and chaired the AACC Commission for Academic, Student and Community Development and the Commission on Publications and Public Relations. Dr. Fong is a fellow of the American Leadership Forum of Silicon Valley and the American Council on Education (ACE), and was named “Phenomenal Woman,” an award given by Chicago’s Harold Washington College Chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges.

Educational Background: Dr. Fong holds a Ph.D. in Administration and Policy Analysis in Higher Education; a M.A. in Child Development and Psychological Studies; and a B.A. in Psychology - all from Stanford University.