On Friday, the Artemis II mission around the moon ended with Integrity’s splashdown into the Pacific.
There are so many amazing parts of this mission – when Commander Reid Wiseman’s crewmates asked to name a moon crater after Reid’s late wife Carroll; how they carried a swatch of fabric from the original Wright Flyer – from first flight, to furthest from Earth; an SD card holding millions of names in the “send your name to space” campaign that brought the public along on the journey.
Another fun part has been the daily wake up songs that greeted the astronauts. Every morning, Mission Control would play a song to start their day.
A few of my favorites:
Under Pressure, by Queen & David Bowie:
Working Class Heroes (Work) from CeeLo Green:
Green Light from John Legend and Andre 3000:
On the day of their lunar flyby, the crew also received a special message from Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell, who recorded this before he passed in 2025:
“Hello, Artemis II! This is Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell. Welcome to my old neighborhood! When Frank Borman, Bill Anders, and I orbited the Moon on Apollo 8, we got humanity’s first up-close look at the Moon and got a view of the home planet that inspired and united people around the world. I’m proud to pass that torch on to you — as you swing around the Moon and lay the groundwork for missions to Mars … for the benefit of all. It’s a historic day, and I know how busy you’ll be. But don’t forget to enjoy the view. So, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy, and all the great teams supporting you – good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth.”
NASA has shared the full playlist on Spotify.
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As for my week…. hectic.
Spent Easter with my daughter in Toronto and then headed to Sacramento for the CCC Advocacy Day. Here are a few photos from Advocacy Day
Check out these two photos … one from 2024 and the second from 2026. Amy Costa and me in action!
Board of Governors
Large Group
I was honored to speak at the Public Policy Institute of California’s “A Conversation with California’s Higher Education Leaders”.
Then it was back to my boy Neo –
Good morning California.
It is April 11, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
Merced College Wins Bellwether Award for Leadership in Workforce Innovation
Merced College has been named a 2026 Bellwether Award winner in the Workforce Development category, a national honor recognizing innovative and replicable programs that address critical workforce challenges. The award recognizes the college’s AgTEC Workforce Initiative, a comprehensive agricultural innovation ecosystem designed to prepare farmworkers and future agricultural professionals for a rapidly evolving industry shaped by automation, robotics and data-driven systems.
West Los Angeles College Aviation Team Soars During Women’s History Month, Challenging Gender Norms in Aviation
From March 15 to 18, 2026, the Aviation Women’s Skills Team, led by WLAC Professor Monica Reyes, completed the 2026 specialized skills Training in Texas. The partnership, sponsored by United Airlines, provided our students with high-level professional exposure and technical development. West is the only California Community College that offers a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, with a focus on the future of aviation technology, including AI, drones, and satellite navigation.
Mendocino College Celebrates $20 million Project on Willits Campus
Local and state leaders recently visited the Mendocino College Willits campus to celebrate a major $20 million investment that will fund a new career training center. U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Ukiah, state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Ukiah, Mendocino College President Tim Karas, Mendocino County Supervisor John Haschak and other leaders involved in the project spoke about how the infusion of funds will support increasing enrollment at the college and create opportunities for economic development. The planned 19,000‑square‑foot facility will expand hands‑on programs in areas like fire technology, health sciences, construction, and energy technology, supporting both workforce development and local economic growth. Doors are expected to open in spring 2029.
College of the Canyons Earns ‘Bee Campus’ Designation
The college has earned designation as a Bee Campus USA affiliate, becoming the first community college in Southern California to receive the distinction in recognition of its long-standing commitment to pollinator conservation, native habitat restoration, and biodiversity education. As a Bee Campus USA affiliate, COC will further its efforts to conserve native pollinators by providing healthy habitats rich in diverse native plants, protected nesting sites, and landscapes managed with minimal pesticides.
In Case You Missed It
After losing his home in the Palisades fire, he’s learning to rebuild it — literally
Hudson Idov wasn’t excited about any of his college options — that is, until his Los Angeles house burned down in the Palisades Fire his senior year of high school.
Less than a week after graduation, he and one of his classmates enrolled in the carpentry program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, a community college just south of downtown. Their goal is to start a construction company one day and help rebuild the Palisades. “We have big, big 10-year plans,” he said during a break in his morning class.
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Which Jobs Are Most at Risk in the Age of AI?
Last month, researchers at Tufts University published “When Wired Belts Become the New Rust Belts: AI and the Emerging Geography of American Job Risk,” which ranks occupations, industries, regions and states by vulnerability “based on the most current understanding of AI’s evolving impact.”
While not as severe as the tech sector’s predictions, the index projects that roughly 6 percent of jobs are vulnerable to AI-driven elimination within the next two to five years, amounting to “a wipeout equivalent to the economy of Belgium” or even “just shy of the economy of South Korea,” if adoption of agentic AI tools increases.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Santa Barbara City College:
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the Physical Education & Athletics Building Groundbreaking Ceremony. The P.E. & Athletics Building is the first project out of the Measure P Bond Extension; This was prioritized to attain matching state funds of $34 million for the project.
“It is exciting to see the P.E. & Athletics Building already deconstructed and moving into the construction phase for our Cliff Campus, as this is the first major building project on campus in almost a decade,” said Superintendent/President Erika Endrijonas, Ph.D.
From Santa Barbara City College:
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the Physical Education & Athletics Building Groundbreaking Ceremony. The P.E. & Athletics Building is the first project out of the Measure P Bond Extension; This was prioritized to attain matching state funds of $34 million for the project.
“It is exciting to see the P.E. & Athletics Building already deconstructed and moving into the construction phase for our Cliff Campus, as this is the first major building project on campus in almost a decade,” said Superintendent/President Erika Endrijonas, Ph.D.
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From Butte College:
Thank you to Mr. Jim Tanimoto for sharing his remarkable story and wisdom with our campus community. At 102 years old, Mr. Tanimoto offers a powerful and personal connection to history as one of the last survivors of the Tule Lake Segregation Center.
We were honored to host a screening of Mr. Tanimoto’s Journey as part of our U in Butte programming, followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Jesse Dizard, Mr. Tanimoto, and Patrick Gilmore.
We thank Mr. Tanimoto for his time and his words!.
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From Folsom Lake College:
A delegation representing FLC’s Prison and Reentry Education Program (PREP) is attending the 15th National Conference on Higher Education in Prison, April 8–10 in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference is bringing together educators and practitioners from across the country to explore policy developments, emerging trends, and innovative practices in prison education.
By participating in this national convening, the FLC team hopes to gain valuable insights to strengthen and expand educational opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, further advancing the college’s commitment to access, equity, and student success.
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From Solano Community College:
Solano Community College Trustees proudly showed their support for Autism and Neurodiversity Acceptance Month by wearing blue—a symbol of solidarity, understanding, and inclusion.
This meaningful gesture reflects our commitment to celebrating the strengths and contributions of neurodivergent individuals, whose unique perspectives help shape our world for the better—on our campus and beyond. Together, we continue to foster an environment where every voice is valued and every individual belongs.
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC’s Jones Art Gallery Hosting 2026 Student Art Exhibit
The Bakersfield College Wylie and May Louise Art Gallery is hosting the 2026 Student Art Exhibit which officially opened this week. This annual event features a diverse collection of artwork by BC students, highlighting their creativity and exceptional talent. There were hundreds of submissions, and each piece included in the exhibit was reviewed and selected by a panel of jurors.
The 2026 BC Student Art Exhibit will be on display in the Jones Art Gallery until April 30th during regular gallery hours (Monday-Thursday, 2:00PM-5:00PM) and is free and open to the public. Please come and enjoy the beautiful artwork created by some of BC’s most talented artists.
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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
A special thank you to our DVC student veterans for leading this meaningful tribute and reminding us of the values of unity, resilience, and service.
