Byron D. Clift Breland has held administrative positions at Santa Ana College, the University of California, Irvine, University of Southern California, and University of Maryland at College Park. Dr. Clift Breland’s work and research efforts have been centered on the provision of services that advise, educate and advocate for students. He finds it imperative to concurrently focus on the implementation of institutional intervention strategies that successfully recruit, retain and graduate traditionally underrepresented students in higher education. As such, Dr. Clift Breland has an extensive background working with programs designed to successfully partner with the surrounding campus community – particularly, in urban environments.

As the former Associate Dean of Student Development at Santa Ana College, Dr. Clift Breland had administrative responsibility for the following programs: AmeriCorps Programs: including the Teacher Reading and Math Development Program, the Foster Youth Mentoring Project, the Service Learning Center, the Santa Ana Civic Leadership Initiative, the Office of Student Life, Commencement, and Student Conduct. He was also an instructor for the Multi Ethnic Leadership Institute of the United Way Orange County.

Currently, Dr. Clift Breland serves as the Dean of Student Affairs at Long Beach City College. He has district-wide administrative responsibility for Student Health and Psychological Services, International Student Center, Women and Men’s Resource Center, Student Life, Commencement, and Student Conduct. Dr. Clift Breland also chairs the district’s Academic Standards Committee.

Dr. Clift Breland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer Economics, and a Master of Science degree in Family Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. He also has a Master of Science degree in Education and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology, both from the University of Southern California.