When Lori Espinoza leaves Paradise Valley Community College’s Union Hills campus at the close of the Spring 2026 semester, she will carry with her more than 28 years of service; she will carry a story that mirrors the college’s mission of access, opportunity, and lifelong learning. Long before she became a steady and trusted presence in the Office of the President, Espinoza, who is retiring this spring, first arrived on campus as a student searching for a new beginning.
After raising her two sons, Espinoza made the decision to return to school in 1998. She planned to pursue a degree in education, determined to build a new chapter for herself and her family. But during an early advising appointment, she learned she would need to take placement tests before enrolling in classes. The idea stopped her in her tracks.
Walking out of the office, she said she was overwhelmed with self-doubt, questioning whether she belonged and whether she was capable. The weight of uncertainty felt heavy, and for a moment, she considered giving up before she had even begun. While contemplating her choices on a bench just outside the counseling offices, another counselor struck up a conversation with her, listened to her concerns, and reassured her that she was capable.
“He’s the one that made me stay, helped me to see ‘yes, you can,’” Espinoza recalled emotionally. “He made me feel that people were going to help me achieve my goals. He made me feel there was a way forward.”
That simple act of encouragement altered the trajectory of her life and became the philosophy she would carry into every student interaction from that point forward. “Never say no,” she said. “A student’s path may not look exactly how they planned it, but there is always a way to what you want to do.”
Falling in Love with Learning
After taking the placement tests, Espinoza began her journey as a Puma, saying, “I fell in love with learning.”
In Fall 1998, she started working in Buxton Library as a student employee. Within a year, she was hired full-time as a library assistant while completing her associate degree. She continued her education at Arizona State University West Campus, earning a bachelor’s degree in History and later completing a master’s degree in Library and Information Science.
Over the next 15 years, Espinoza built a career in PVCC’s library, later taking on a one-year assignment as a student service specialist at the college’s Black Mountain campus. Then, in 2014, she became assistant to the vice president of Academic Affairs, and a year later, she stepped into the role of assistant to the president.
“My path reflects the very promise of community college: access, opportunity, and upward mobility. I knew early on in my journey that my purpose in life was helping people. I love trying new things, and in all the avenues I took, I continued learning.”
For Espinoza, PVCC was never just a workplace; it was a living example of lifelong learning in action. “From being a student all the way through working in the Office of the President, PVCC provided a wider experience in higher education. I learned that it is not teaching that happens, but learning, and the learning happens both ways. I have been able to learn from my students and peers as well.
She credits the college for giving her room to grow, explore, and evolve professionally while supporting her family. “PVCC allowed me to better provide for my family and help others. That is what PVCC has to offer – a chance to pursue a better life experience.”
A Legacy of Leadership and Service
Throughout her career, Espinoza’s contributions have been recognized both on campus and beyond. She received the Dr. Mary Lou Mosley Employee Excellence Award in 2020 and the League of Excellence Award from the League for Innovation in 2019. She was nominated for Woman of Distinction for Leadership, Innovation, Service and Contribution to Women at PVCC in 2007 and completed the Linda B. Rosenthal Leadership Program in 2006–2007. For the past six years, she has given back as a mentor in that same program.
One of her mentees, Lisa Saper-Bloom, described Espinoza’s “sunshiny disposition, humor, ability to listen and understand as what makes her special.” “I am extremely fortunate to have been paired with Lori as my mentor in the Linda B. Rosenthal Women’s Mentoring Program. She is the type of person you feel instantly connected to. She is the perfect blend of institutional and program knowledge mixed with joy and fun.”
“Lori embodies the heart of PVCC,” added PVCC President Dr. Jana Schwarz. “Her dedication to our students, her institutional knowledge, and her genuine care for this campus community have strengthened our college in countless ways. She leads with compassion, integrity, and joy, and her impact will be felt long after her retirement.”
When asked what she will miss most, Espinoza answers without hesitation – the students and her colleagues. “The people make my job so enjoyable,” she said.
Nearly three decades after that pivotal moment on a bench outside the counseling office, her message remains the same for students, colleagues, and anyone standing at the edge of uncertainty: There is always a way forward.