Arizona Western College introduces new president, targets lower tuition
Dr. Reetika Dhawan took over Arizona Western College and put a cheaper bachelor's path at the center of her first year. She will spend the summer shaping Strategic Plan 2028.
At a reception Friday in Yuma, Arizona Western College introduced Dr. Reetika Dhawan as its 10th president and put lower-cost degrees at the center of her first year. Dhawan began her tenure June 1 and said she wants to make higher education more accessible for local students, including through a “three-plus” program that would let students earn a bachelor’s degree at the college for about $200 a credit.
The transition gives AWC both continuity and a new milestone. The District Governing Board announced Dhawan on Dec. 11, 2025, to succeed Dr. Daniel Corr after his retirement in July 2026. Dhawan has been at Arizona Western College since 2008, and the college said she is the first woman and the first person of color to lead the institution in its 63-year history. Dhawan, who described herself as an immigrant who has lived in the area for 20 years, said the confidence placed in her leadership meant a great deal to her.
AWC carries unusual weight in Yuma County and beyond. The college says it serves the largest geographic district in Arizona and describes itself as a nationally recognized leader in rural and border-region education. That footprint makes the president’s first year more than a ceremonial handoff, because the school’s decisions touch students looking for affordable credentials, employees who depend on campus programs and local families weighing whether they can stay in the region while finishing a degree.
Dhawan said she will spend the summer meeting with students, employees and community leaders as part of building Strategic Plan 2028. The college says that planning process is designed to grow from collaboration with the campus and with local and regional communities, producing a framework that is flexible but focused on the college’s future. For Yuma, San Luis, Parker and other communities across the district, the clearest test will be whether that plan turns into visible progress on affordability and access before the next academic year.
The “three-plus” idea gives the new presidency its sharpest immediate target. If AWC can move that program from concept to actual enrollment path, the college could offer a lower-cost route to a bachelor’s degree without forcing more students to leave the area or take on as much debt.
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