Poppy Fitch

Poppy Fitch, Ed.D., serves as Lecturer in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education at San Diego State University and Dean of Wellness and Disability Support Programs and Services for the San Diego Community College District. An equity-focused counselor and administrator, she champions spaces of authenticity and belonging through an ethic of love, committed to ensuring all students can reach their fullest potential via transformative education.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Ed.D. in Post-Secondary/Community College Educational Leadership from San Diego State University
• Master's in Education with Multicultural Counseling specialization from San Diego State University

Dr. Fitch's research centers on foster youth college persistence success factors, intergenerational leadership dynamics, and frameworks for difficult conversations on identity and race. Her work bridges academic scholarship and practical administration with a strengths-based, equity-driven approach that prioritizes marginalized student populations. She integrates personal lived experience as a former foster youth with professional expertise to address systemic barriers in higher education.

As Dean of Wellness and DSPS, Dr. Fitch oversees comprehensive student support services across the community college district, likely managing significant grant-funded programs for disability accommodations and wellness initiatives. Her service extends to the California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED) and former commissioner role with the San Diego Commission on Police Practices, reflecting deep community engagement.

Leading the Wellness and DSPS division, Dr. Fitch directs teams providing critical resources for students with disabilities, creating accessible pathways to academic success. While not operating a traditional research lab, her administrative unit functions as an applied equity laboratory implementing evidence-based support strategies across multiple community college campuses.