Miami, June 27, 2024 – In an effort to continue providing academic excellence and serving the community, Miami Dade College (MDC) recently announced new leadership at several of its eight campuses throughout Miami-Dade County.
Meet the campus presidents:
Dr. Alanka Brown will serve as president of MDC Homestead Campus. Prior to this appointment, she was president of MDC Padrón Campus. Dr. Brown has worked in the field of higher education for over 15 years in both teaching and administrative positions. Previous experience includes Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs at the City Colleges of Chicago’s Wilbur Wright College. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration, a master’s in public administration and a graduate certificate in education law & policy from Nova Southeastern University. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida A&M University and a second graduate certificate in project leadership from Cornell University.
After six years as president of MDC Medical Campus, Dr. Bryan Stewart has been named president of MDC Kendall Campus. Throughout his career, Dr. Stewart has created many academic and workforce programs to improve students’ lives, such as the ModMath program that he recently piloted at several MDC campuses to help developmental math students find a pathway to success. He also cultivated relationships with local corporations that have yielded millions of dollars in scholarships and increased enrollment. Dr. Stewart holds a doctorate in college and university teaching with a minor in mathematics, as well as a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, from the University of North Texas. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Tarleton State University. Dr. Stewart is also certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
Dr. Alwyn Leiba will serve as interim president of MDC Medical Campus. He began his journey at MDC years ago as a student and later returned to teach. Throughout his tenure at the College, Dr. Leiba has held various roles, including associate professor, chair and most recently dean the School of Health Sciences, where he successfully implemented numerous allied health programs to meet critical workforce demands. Dr. Leiba was the first African American president of the Florida Dental Hygienists’ Association and South Florida Dental Hygienists’ Association. He also serves as chair of the Association of Florida Colleges Healthcare Education Commission. Dr. Leiba holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Northcentral University, an MBA with a concentration in healthcare management from American Intercontinental University, a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from Saint Petersburg College and an associate in dental hygiene from MDC.
Dr. Oscar Loynaz has been named president of MDC Padrón Campus. Prior to this appointment, he served as president of the Homestead Campus and, previously, vice provost for Academic Schools at MDC and dean of the School of Health Sciences. Although he was trained as a physician, his professional career has been dedicated to working in administrative positions managing operations and finances in several public and private organizations, including institutions of higher education, hospitals, primary care centers, community-based organizations, as well as local, state, and federal agencies. During his 38-year career, he has supported the residents of South Florida through his work improving mental health services, HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, community planning, and service delivery. He also taught classes in a variety of subjects for over 20 years.