President's Biography

Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, Ed.D.

President of Montgomery County Community College

Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez (she/her) proudly serves as the sixth President of Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) where she leads with both heart and purpose to advance student achievement, workforce development, and community impact. A first-generation college graduate and higher education leader with more than four decades of experience, she is committed to ensuring that learners at every stage of life have access to equitable educational opportunities that lead to meaningful careers, economic mobility, and lifelong success.

Since being appointed president in May 2020, Dr. Bastecki-Perez has worked collaboratively with MCCC employees, trustees, students, and community partners to inspire, lead, and transform destinies and future generations. Through her unwavering commitment to student academic and career attainment, innovation, and stewardship, she has led the College through a period of significant institutional growth and accomplishments.

One hallmark of Dr. Bastecki-Perez's presidency has been fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and shared purpose. Through an inclusive process, she guided the development of the College's mission, vision, values, equity statement, 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, 2023-2033 Facilities Master Plan, and Strategic Employee Workforce Plan, creating a clear roadmap for academic progress and institutional advancement. Reflecting the strength of this work, MCCC earned reaffirmation of accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 2025 with no reporting requirements and received 13 commendations and 19 community support letters, demonstrating strong confidence in the College's mission, governance, and performance.

Under her leadership, the College has lived its commitment to affordability, including advocating for local, state, and federal funding that has resulted in a tuition and fees freeze for the 2026-2027 academic year. In June 2025, the College launched the Montgomery County Community College (PA) Legacy Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to expand scholarships, support programming, and create life-changing opportunities for students. During its inaugural year, the Legacy Fund more than doubled its fundraising goal.

Dr. Bastecki-Perez has championed initiatives that support the whole student, helping position MCCC as the first community college in the nation to provide unlimited 24/7 online mental health therapy and the first community college in Pennsylvania to establish an Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society chapter for first-generation students. Her leadership also helped secure more than $1 million to create a Student Wellness Center at MCCC’s Pottstown Campus, and a substantial gift to establish the Dr. Stuart H. and Sandra K. Fine Fund for Nursing Innovation and Annual and Endowment Scholarship funds, expanding high-demand career opportunities for students while helping to address Pennsylvania’s critical nursing workforce shortage.

A strong advocate for workforce training and economic development, Dr. Bastecki-Perez has guided the expansion of academic programs, industry partnerships, and workforce credentials aligned with regional employer needs. Through these efforts, MCCC continues to strengthen talent pipelines while preparing students for career development and advancement. Under her leadership, MCCC also celebrated the largest graduating class in its history, reflecting its continued commitment to student achievement, retention, and completion.

MCCC’s impact also extends well beyond its campuses. According to the College's most recent Lightcast Economic Impact Report (FY 2023-24), MCCC generated $917.5 million in added annual income for the regional economy and supported 9,594 jobs. Students gain an estimated $5.10 in lifetime earnings for every $1 invested in their education, underscoring the value of accessible, high-quality community college education.

Dr. Bastecki-Perez’s presidency has also been marked by strategic investments in educational facilities. Since 2020, nearly $98 million has been invested across the College, including expansion of the Hospitality Institute, renovations to the Science Center, and the creation of Pennsylvania's first and only STEM-based Challenger Learning Center. These renovated spaces inspire discovery and promote experiential learning and career readiness.

During her tenure, MCCC has received numerous national recognitions, including the Achieving the Dream Leah Meyer Austin Alumni Award, and was selected to join the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program's Unlocking Opportunity Network, recognizing its unwavering commitment to improving student outcomes, transfer success, and placement in family-sustaining careers.

MCCC also has been recognized as one of the nation's Most Promising Places to Work for 10 years, a Military Friendly Top 10 School, a Military Friendly Spouse School, a U.S. Veterans Top Yellow Ribbon School, and a recipient of the Insight Into Academia Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award for two consecutive years. MCCC also was named a Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus in 2022 by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and received the 2026 Community Impact Award from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

For her visionary leadership, Dr. Bastecki-Perez has been recognized as a 2024 Women of Influence honoree by the Philadelphia Business Journal, a 2024 Trailblazer in Higher Education by City & State Pennsylvania, a multiple-year Higher Education Power 100 honoree, recipient of the Montgomery County Advisory Council for Equity Community Courage and Service Award (Higher Education Award), the 2021 Eugene Jackson Humanitarian Award,  among other honors.

Beyond the College, she serves on several local, state, and national boards focused on workforce development, economic growth, higher education, and student success, including the MCCC (PA) Legacy Fund, Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, MontcoWorks, and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. She also serves on the boards for Challenger Center, and the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports and is a member of the Pennsylvania Chamber Higher Education Council, among others, and is a Peer Evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. 

Prior to becoming president, Dr. Bastecki-Perez served as Interim President, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of Allied Health and Physical Education, and Director and Professor of Dental Hygiene. She began her academic career as an Assistant Professor and Senior Clinical Supervisor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine for nearly a decade before finding her home at MCCC. 

As an accomplished scholar, Dr. Bastecki-Perez holds certificates from the University of Pittsburgh, Dental Assisting and Oral Hygiene, and a B.S. in Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She started graduate coursework through the Edinboro-Oxford Experience study abroad program at Exeter College, Oxford University, before earning an M.Ed. and Ed.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Pittsburgh. She was named a Distinguished Alumna by Edinboro University in 2000 and the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 2010.

A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Dr. Bastecki-Perez has called Montgomery County home for nearly 25 years. She and her husband are proud parents of a Montco graduate. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, swimming, and dancing.

To learn more about Montgomery County Community College and Dr. Bastecki-Perez's leadership, explore the College's Annual Year in Review and monthly President’s Reports.