A Life Dedicated to Education Leads to New Post

Oceanside CA— Cynthia Rice Carroll, former Associate Dean of Student Services at MiraCosta’s San Elijo Campus, has been named MiraCosta’s first Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement. Rice Carroll’s selection gives her direct oversight of college public relations and marketing, governmental affairs, advocacy, the MiraCosta College Foundation, and a five-year, $8-million fundraising campaign to support the MiraCosta Promise.
“I’m very excited,” Rice Carroll said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to continue to provide leadership for the long-standing tradition of excellence at MiraCosta College. My goal in this position is to ensure strong leadership for integrity of processes, inspire current and future donors to new giving levels, and ensure the College is a key force in the community with a stellar reputation,” Rice Carroll said.
Rice Carroll began her career in higher education 27 years ago at UC San Diego, where she was tasked with marketing and managing extensive corporate meeting planning services to national business groups for large industry conferences. Rice Carroll also served as UC San Diego’s coordinator of student activities. She refined her fundraising skills as director of educational programming at the Carter Center, a nonprofit founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Moreover, Rice Carroll brings over 14 years of experience serving student populations in the greater San Diego community in various supervisory and director-level roles.
“Cynthia is a wonderful addition to our executive leadership team, and her wealth of experience in outreach, fundraising, and community relations makes her a perfect fit for the position,” said MiraCosta College Superintendent/President Sunita “Sunny” Cooke.
Rice Carroll’s first order of business is growing the MiraCosta College Foundation’s endowment by $8 million within the next five years to support the MiraCosta Promise, a recently launched program offering tuition-free education for a student’s first year of college. The MiraCosta Promise is vital because approximately 75 percent of MiraCosta College students are working to support themselves, and nearly half subsist on an annual individual income of less than $18,000. The MiraCosta College Foundation, which was created in 1967, now has an endowment of approximately $8 million and contributes nearly $500,000 annually in scholarships for students and nearly $470,000 to support a variety of campus programs.
How does one go about raising $8 million? “I’ve heard it said time and time again that a goal without a plan is just a wish. I’m a real believer in developing solid project plans and then working the plans. Communication is also key,” Rice Carroll said. “Communicating the needs of the institution and actively listening for indications where the donor’s interests align with the campaign. The best donors and messengers for a cause are the people who feel passionate about it.”
Her strategy also calls for increasing the number of MiraCosta College Foundation directors and growing the role of the Foundation’s Business Roundtable, which raised $250,000 for a new STEM Learning Center at the Oceanside Campus last year.
Rice Carroll earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from National University and a master’s degree in international relations, with an emphasis in peace and conflict studies, from Alliant International University (then called United States International University).
“I’m very excited about this new position and I’m very excited about what the future holds for MiraCosta College,” Rice Carroll said.