Meet Galvin
Galvin Sablan Deleon Guerrero— known affectionately across the Marianas as Dr. G— has dedicated his life to helping people learn, lead, and believe in their potential. As the President of Northern Marianas College (NMC), he has championed access, equity, and opportunity for students across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, leading the College through one of the most ambitious periods of growth and transformation in its history.
Born and raised on Saipan, Galvin has spent three decades at the intersection of education, leadership, and public service. Before becoming President of NMC, he served in key policy and leadership roles: as vice principal, principal, and director in K–12 education at Mount Carmel School; as director of institutional effectiveness at NMC; and as a member of the CNMI State Board of Education, NMC Board of Regents, and education adviser in the CNMI Office of the Governor. At every stage, his purpose has been the same—to ensure that learning uplifts lives and strengthens the community.
He is the son of two fighters who dedicated their lives to service and community. His father, Vicente “Ben Rai” Cabrera Deleon Guerrero, served honorably in the U.S. Army before returning home to continue his service as a Representative in the Third Commonwealth Legislature and later as the CNMI’s first Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs, where he helped establish the Veterans Memorial Park at Kilili Beach. His mother, Jessica “Kilili” Sablan Deleon Guerrero, devoted her career to public service at the CNMI Public School System, the Department of Labor, and American Memorial Park. In her retirement, she continues to give back—working full-time as a proud grandmother and volunteering at Kristo Rai Church.
He holds an Education Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education, a Master of Arts in School Administration from the University of San Francisco, a certificate in digital filmmaking from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Puget Sound.
In the classroom, Galvin has taught Speech and Debate, AP English Literature, AP U.S. History, and AP U.S. Politics and Government—courses that have inspired generations of students to think critically, speak courageously, and lead with conviction. Beyond academics, he has mentored hundreds of young people through theatre, film, and debate. His productions with Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club have earned international recognition, including award-winning films featured in festivals around the world, such as We Drank Our Tears, an anthology honoring the stories of indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian civilians who endured World War II on Saipan.
A lifelong advocate for civic engagement and the humanities, Galvin’s leadership has been recognized with numerous distinctions, including the Saipan Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year Award and three awards from the Northern Marianas Humanities Council. He was also nominated for both the Rhodes and Marshall Fellowships during his undergraduate years at the University of Puget Sound.
Above all, Galvin is guided by faith, humility, and love for family. He shares his life’s journey with his wife, Velma, and their three children—Victoria, William, and Mary Shelley—who remind him every day why the work of education matters: to give every young person the chance to dream boldly, to work hard, and to build a future worthy of the Marianas.