Here’s to an epic 2026!
This past week was quiet on the work front with Christmas falling on Thursday. Got into the holiday spirit Christmas eve with a visit to Crumbl Cookie…
…followed by lounging by the fire binge-watching. With the storm moving through California, it was the perfect way to slip into the spirit of the season.
The skies were celebrating early Christmas morning –
Some more beautiful skies and trees for you this holiday season:
Sunrise –
More –
And more –
And two of my faves – Hugh Jackman and Stephen Colbert.
Good morning California.
It is December 27, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
This week, I’ll continue my annual tradition of closing the year reviewing past blog posts. Today we’ll look at posts from 2022-2025.
Take a little time out of your weekend, relaxing with a cup of coffee (or tea or hot chocolate) to browse through previous posts…
2022
February 19, 2022 – KernCCD team in DC
Last week, I traveled to the Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington, DC, with a KCCD delegation that included Trustees Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg and Yovani Jimenez, as well as Senator Emeritus Jean Fuller. While there, a group of us from the Community College League of California met with US Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Angela Hanks to discuss the key role that community colleges play in training our workforce.
» Read more!
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May 21, 2022 – After graduation – a week of gatherings,
fellowship, and celebrations
This week we were able to come together and celebrate the amazing people who keep the Kern Community College District. Kern CCD #DaringMightyThings
Each of our campuses – and the district office – held events to honor our classified employees. We also held the inaugural Kern CCD Management Association Symposium at the BC Conference Room, and closed out the week with a potluck at my home.
It was truly special to have colleagues from across the district join together in person, a wonderful celebration to cap off the academic year.
» Read more!
*****
August 20, 2022 – Kern CCD Colleges ready to welcome students
back to Fall 2022 classes. Let’s go!
We are wrapping up another event-filled summer and getting ready to start our next school year, welcoming new Pirates, Coyotes, and Renegades into our classrooms. This week, all three of our colleges held activities welcoming students, faculty and staff back in anticipation of fall semester.
I was happy to be able to spend part of Thursday morning at Porterville College and Bakersfield College and to join Cerro Coso virtually for their opening day.
On Wednesday, the California Resources Corporation presented the Kern Community College District with a check for $1.94M to establish the CRC Carbon Management Institute to facilitate community education, workforce development, learning labs & student academies as Kern County defines its role in the new carbon economy. I am so excited to see how this gift will help as Kern CCD continues #DaringMightyThings.
» Read more!
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November 19, 2022 – A Tolkien for our times
Ridgecrest Regional Hospital nursing administrators hosted a tea for Cerro Coso nursing students on November 16th to encourage partnership and build connections.
A nursing shortage is currently challenging the healthcare systems across the country that will continue to impact hospitals for years to come. An aging population, increased demand for services, expanded insurance coverage, as well as rising rates of chronic disease are fueling the growing need for nursing staff. “We need our LVN’s,” said Celia Mills, MSN, VSN, RN, PHN, RRH Administrator of Care Coordination and Community Health.
2023
February 25, 2023 – California Community College System names the eleventh chancellor
On Thursday, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges named the eleventh chancellor of the California Community College system.
My colleagues from Kern Community College District colleagues made the trek to Sacramento for the announcement. My Kern CCD family THANK YOU for your love and support.
*****
April 23, 2023 – Teaching and Learning Exchange (TALE) at Kern CCD
Last week, Kern Community College District hosted the inaugural KernCCD TALEFEST. The Teaching-and Learning Exchange Festival was created to celebrate and support Kern CCD educators through the sharing of teaching-and-learning stories and the discussion of strategic new directions in a festive, positive environment showcasing achievement and innovation, peer-learning opportunities, and building district-wide mutual understanding and connections – in support of the goals of continuous improvement toward ensuring student learning and achieving student success with equity.
Porterville College’s Bob Simpkins led the initiative. The festival featured special guest speaker Susan D. Blum.
*****
September 30, 2023 – CA CCs – Taking college to our future learners
It was a big week up in Sacramento. During this week’s Board of Governors meeting, the BOG approved the Vision 2030 framework.
We enjoyed a no-host dinner at the end of day 1 of our meeting. This is a terrific group… absolutely dedicated to our students and a whole lot of fun.
We also had two more announcements at the BOG meeting.
The Apprenticeship Pathway Demonstration Project, creates a roadmap for colleges to convert apprenticeship learning experiences into college credit, including both existing and new and innovative apprenticeship experiences, as well as related supplemental instruction and prior on-the-job training.
The California Community Colleges and the United Domestic Workers (UDW) announced a partnership to support the ongoing educational needs of the union’s members and their dependents that will lead to educational pathways with upward socio-economic mobility.
2024
January 27, 2027 – CACCs celebrating our very best
This week started in Sacramento with a Board of Governors meeting.
One of the best things we get to do is celebrate the work of our community colleges, and this meeting was no different.
Chabot College, Glendale College, MiraCosta College and San Diego Mesa College have been honored by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors with 2023-24 Exemplary Program Awards in partnership with the statewide Academic Senate.
*****
April 20, 2024 – San Diego – what’s not to like…
This week, I traveled down to San Diego again. This time for the ASU GSV conference.
I took the ferry back-and-forth to the conference site at the convention center.
At the conference, I joined ASU President Michael Crow & Silicon Valley Community Foundation President Nicole Taylor for a Sunstage X Coffee session to discuss the revolution in education & learning technology for California learners.
*****
June 22, 2024 – Wrapping up an academic year
I started my week in DC for a White House AI summit.
Back in Sacramento, the executive team had a two-day planning meeting, and we also celebrated Deputy Chancellor Daisy Gonzales who is transitioning to lead the California Student Aid Commission:
It was also a time to honor Juneteenth, a federal holiday to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the Civil War.
*****
September 21, 2024 – California Community Colleges driving climate action
This week was the C3 Converge2024 Climate Summit in Sacramento.
Thank you to Endee Grijalva for sharing this photo of the Kern CCD team!
2025
January 25, 2025 – Saluting and honoring our fire fighters
It has been heartbreaking with the fires in southern California being fanned by the Santa Ana winds. We have all watched our fire fighters run towards the danger to save people, animals, and homes. Let’s take a moment to honor them – their skill, dedication, and selflessness keeps us safe and uplifts our communities.
California Community Colleges train large numbers of our first responders. I am so proud of our colleges.
In that spirit, let me share this post from College of the Siskiyous celebrating heroic, lifesaving efforts by 4 of their students:
“Last nights monthly Board of Trustees Meeting recognized some of our Paramedic and Fire Academy Students for their lifesaving skills during a recent call.
“On December 9th 2024 Lake Shastina Fire was dispatched to a medical 911 call for a 74 year old male with chest pain. 4 responding Lake Shastina student firefighters arrived, and the patient answered the door to let the firefighters in. He was walking around the living room, talking and completely coherent and responsive. While the students were doing a patient assessment and taking vitals, he suddenly collapsed in his chair. They tried to wake him and attempted a sternum rub with no response. The firefighters then checked for a pulse and did not find one.
“They quickly pulled him out of the chair to lay him on the floor and begin life saving measures. One of the firefighters ran out to the engine to grab the AED while the other 3 performed CPR. Once the AED was applied the patient was shocked twice during multiple rounds of CPR. At this point the patient was stable enough to load him into the ambulance to transport to the hospital. He started to gain consciousness while in route to Mercy Medical Center. Once arrived, he was flown to Redding for emergency heart surgery due to a heart attack.
The 4 firefighters were recognized by The American Heart Association and received the Heartsaver Hero Award.
Pictured from left to right: Jase Rothenberger, Tobias Medina, Matt Maben (patient), Christian Cerezo, and Nathan Ade.”
*****
March 29, 2025 – Celebrating Women’s History Month
in California Community Colleges
Just wrapped up Board week…. Since March is Women’s History Month we have started wearing white at the March meeting….
At the meeting, we honored three faculty with the prestigious 2024-25 Gerald C. HAyward awards for Excellence in Education
History Instructor Stacey Marie Svilich of Feather River College, Math Professor Leila Safaralian of MiraCosta College, and Business Professor Denise Bushnell of Sierra College were honored at the March 25 Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento.
*****
July 26, 2025 – Our Time is Now – July 2025
Such a fun week of good work….
The Board of Governors meeting, where the Board approved the July 2025 update to Vision 2030.
Here is the small by mighty executive leadership at the Chancellor’s Office.
Then it was off to Denver for Achieving the Dream’s K-College Institute: Strengthening Pathways Through Dual Enrollment.
*****
September 21, 2025 – BOG at NOCE
This week the Board of Governors headed to the NOCE Anaheim Campus. I love having the opportunity to visit our campuses!
And look who we met – Lindon, NOCE’s first-ever Facility Dog! NOCE does a great job, with innovative ways to keep students, staff and faculty healthy and reduce stress.
We had a wonderful lunch at Cypress Bistro, Cypress College’s student-run bistro, located on the Anaheim campus.
It was a fabulous visit.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.
That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!
With much hope and joy,
Your Chancellor,
-sonya
#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora
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