Board of Trustees Member

Manuel Magpapian

As a Trustee representing Area 3, Manuel Magpapian is focused on strengthening student outcomes and supporting the faculty and staff who make GCC thrive. Having been shaped by Glendale, he now hopes to help shape Glendale Community College into an even stronger place of learning, opportunity, and belonging for every student who walks through its doors.

Mr. Magpapian is a proud Glendale resident, attorney, and former GCC student whose work has been guided by a commitment to civic engagement, equity, and strengthening the communities that raised him. Growing up in East Hollywood's Little Armenia and later studying at GCC, he saw firsthand how public institutions, when led with care and vision, can transform lives. Those lessons carried through to his studies at UC Santa Barbara and into his career in law, where he continues to champion fairness, accountability, and access for all.

Mr. Magpapian's commitment to public service comes from a deep sense of gratitude and a belief that each of us has a responsibility to build the kind of community that once lifted us. For more than a decade, he has worked to strengthen civic participation, expand community resources, and uplift local voices through a range of leadership roles, including Commissioner on the State of California Respiratory Care Board; Board Member and former President of the Southern California Armenian Democrats; Alternate Member of the LA County Democratic Party Central Committee; former Board Member of the YWCA Glendale & Pasadena; and former Vice President and Treasurer of the Glendale Parks and Open Space Foundation.

Through this work, Mr. Magpapian has collaborated with students, families, healthcare professionals, nonprofit partners, and elected leaders, always with a focus on transparency, collaboration, and practical solutions.

Mr. Magpapian’s present term is June 2026 – June 2030.