Lisa Garcia

Lisa Garcia joined Western Michigan University in 2012 to lead the WMU Business Connection and currently serves as Associate Vice President for External Partnerships. In this role, she leads the University’s corporate and community partnership efforts, connecting external organizations with opportunities that support students and faculty and strengthen the communities WMU serves.

Before entering higher education, Garcia spent approximately 15 years as an advertising and marketing executive in major markets, including New York, Chicago and Dallas. During that time, she managed relationships with prominent organizations and brands, including Kellogg’s and Nickelodeon.

Garcia holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently completing a Ph.D. in educational leadership at WMU. Her dissertation examines the leadership journeys of Chicana and Latina community college presidents.

An active campus and community leader, Garcia serves as first vice chair of the United Way of South Central Michigan's Board of Directors and as a board member for Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo. She co-founded ELLAS, a Kalamazoo-based Latina leadership organization, and continues to serve on its executive board. In 2026, she was named one of the 25 Most Influential Latinos in West Michigan by VIVE Michigan. Her published scholarship has addressed women’s leadership in community colleges, educational technology, and gender bias.