Yesterday, September 25, was National Daughters’ Day.
Here’s to my beautiful, smart daughter, who does extraordinary work caring for children and their loved ones during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
So proud of the person she is, the work she does, and the heart she brings to it every day.
I got my Covid vaccine yesterday. Ninth vaccine so far since 2020. I encourage everyone to keep up on their boosters.
Here’s a throwback to my first Covid shot back in 2020:
Sunrise photo – I haven’t done one of these for awhile:
Another one:
This week was the Collective Equity Institute
Hildy got this video of the recognition of – “Warrior Lady for the California Community Colleges”
Good morning California. It is September 26, 2026. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
$900,000 Philanthropic Investment will Kickstart New Air Traffic Control Program for Orange Coast College Students
An Orange Coast College Foundation donor has made a strategic philanthropic investment of $900,000 in Orange County’s workforce to kickstart a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) program. The program will create a direct, local educational pathway into one of the nation’s most critical and in-demand aviation professions. The generous gift will fund specialized facilities, state-of-the-art air traffic control simulation equipment, classroom renovations, curriculum development, and instructional technology needed to launch the program. Introductory ATC courses will begin this fall, with the full curriculum available in Fall 2027.
Berkeley City College and LBNL Partner to Expand Quantum Workforce Readiness
Berkeley City College and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have launched the Boosting Employment Readiness in Quantum (BERQ) program, a three-week summer initiative that introduces community college students to the rapidly advancing fields of quantum information science and technology while preparing them for careers in the emerging workforce.
Measuring – and Proving – the Effectiveness Of Non-Degree Programs at Calbright College
Certificates and other non-degree credentials are the fastest growing sector in higher education, for very good reasons. They’re faster, cheaper, and often more career focused than traditional college degrees. This makes these types of certificate programs particularly ideal for working-age adults looking to upskill, reskill, and pivot careers.
Ruby already spoke two languages when she arrived in the United States. Now she speaks three.
A mother and Syrian war survivor, Ruby became acclimated to her new country by taking free, noncredit English language classes at Citrus College.
So can you.
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From San Diego College of Continuing Education:
SDCCE celebrated Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month at Harbor View Campus with an afternoon recognizing the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities!
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From Ohlone College:
Happy #DeafAwarenessMonth and #InternationalDayofSignLanguages! Today, our Ohlone College Deaf Center hosted our Deaf Awareness Month and Welcome Back event with our ASL club to celebrate the achievements of our Deaf community.
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From Norco College:
The Trailblazers Scholars Program kicked off the students’ Trailblazers experience!
First up, we had a warm welcome from Anita Bailey, one of our dedicated counselors.
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And check out this video from Santa Rosa Junior College:
And From the Home of the Renegades
Bakersfield College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Kern CCD Board of Trustee member Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg shared this from Loteria night at BC:
Lotería night at BC was a blast! Huge congrats to our big winner from last week’s BC Padrinos Lotería Fundraiser. Thank you for supporting the cause!
Back in San Diego and here is my traditional picture for you.
What’s not to love about San Diego?
Pathways to Equity Conference was held in San Diego this year. We had quite a large team from the Chancellor’s Office. Happy that Board members Pam Haynes and Adrienne Brown were able to join us.
The conference started with dance students from San Diego City College. Captured this 15-sec video for you.
Jenny Saechao snapped this photo of me with the dance students and their faculty member from San Diego City College.
And more photos of the student panel I facilitated at the event –
Yahir Melendez, Sonya Christian, Adriana Dorsey, Ana Karina Lomeli-Cadenas
Back home to my boy Neo
Good morning California. It is May 2, 2026. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
New Calbright College and NLET Initiative Will Modernize California’s Skills-Based Economy and Workforce Infrastructure
Calbright College, California’s statewide exclusively online community college, and the National Laboratory for Education Transformation (NLET) today announced a strategic partnership to bridge the gap between workforce policy and practice. By establishing a dedicated “Education to Workforce Working Group,” the two organizations will develop and scale competency-based training in high-demand technical sectors, including emerging technology and AI infrastructure.
Orange Coast College Students Take Second Against Four-Year Universities in Food Science Contest
Orange Coast College’s food science student product development team won second place at the 38th annual Student Product Development Competition hosted by the Southern California Institute of Food Technologists (SCIFTs) on March 3 in Anaheim, California. Morgan Downie, culinary/food science; Anna Jensen, food science; and Hannah Thompson, nutrition and dietetics, made up the first team that OCC has sent to the competition and were the only community college competitors.
West Hills Community College District Joins Fresno State Bulldog Bound Program to Expand Transfer Opportunities
The West Hills Community College District is proud to announce its participation in the Fresno State Bulldog Bound program, expanding access to a clear and supported transfer pathway for students across the Central Valley. Chancellor Dr. Robert Pimentel, Lemoore College President James Preston, and Coalinga College President Dr. Carla Tweed joined higher education leaders from throughout the region to celebrate the launch of the program, which is now being extended to include community college students.
OPINION: As graduation looms, students need pathways that are practical, affordable and connected to opportunity
As we wrap up Apprenticeship Week, I wanted to share my op-ed that was published in Hechinger Report:
For too long, higher education has acted as if learning only counts when it happens inside a classroom. Millions of Americans know otherwise.
Opportunity should not require relocation, excessive debt or navigating systems built for someone else’s life. Our nation needs to broaden its definition of where learning happens and recognize learning wherever it happens.
Apprenticeship is a natural place to begin building that broader network of opportunities. At a time when the nation is debating college costs, workforce shortages, economic security and the future of work, apprenticeship offers something rare: a solution that works for students, employers and communities at the same time. It is a framework to learn, earn and advance.
Community College Reforms Have Improved Student Success in Math
Seven years after the California Community Colleges began implementing placement and remediation reforms, almost all students are enrolling directly in transfer-level math—a key milestone on the path to college completion. In a virtual briefing last week, Marisol Cuellar Mejia outlined the findings of a new report that examines the impact of these reforms and answered audience questions.
Assembly Bill (AB) 705 requires the state’s community colleges to maximize the chances that students take and complete transfer-level courses in math and English within a one-year time frame. Before AB 705 implementation, most students were placed in remedial courses and many dropped out without ever taking a transfer-level course.
“Completion rates have increased consistently since AB 705 took effect,” said Cuellar Mejia. She noted that initial increases were driven mostly by expanded access, but a 7 percentage point improvement from 2022 to 2024—when almost all students were starting in transfer-level math—indicates that changes in the classroom have recently played a major role.
Meanwhile, Board Member Cirian Villavicencio attended the press conference hosted by Assembly Member Mike Fong and Senator Eloise Reyes announcing two bills that establish Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANHPI) designations. Deputy Chancellor Rowena Tomaneng represented our system and spoke at the event.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Mission College:
The Rising Scholars Program participated in the Santa Clara County Adult Probation Employment and Resource Fair in recognition of Second Chance Month. Program Analyst Steve Duong and Hospitality Management Instructor Eve Little connected with justice-impacted individuals.
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From Modesto Junior College:
This month, students and community members united to celebrate the 2nd Annual Traveling Around MJC: A Multi-Cultural Event. Everyone came together in the spirit of cultural awareness, inclusivity, and unity.
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From Glendale Community College:
Spring at GCC Garfield Campus is a whole mood. The Jacarandas are in full bloom, turning our daily walk to class into a purple dream. Sometimes you just have to stop and take it all in.
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From Saddleback College:
It was a busy week at Saddleback, but one that showed what a vibrant and energetic campus we are! Discover Saddleback High School Senior Day on April 21 – Over 1,350 local high school seniors came to campus to discover all that Saddleback has to offer!
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From San Diego Miramar College:
We are just about ready to host our Scholarship awards banquet! Over 150 students are about to receive $137,000 in scholarship aid.
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And check out this mini-documentary about the De Anza Auto Tech program! It was produced as part of the California Career Training Showcase.
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC STEM Hosts Physics Olympics for Local High School Students
Last week, the STEM Department at Bakersfield College hosted their annual Physics Olympics for local high school students. The event took place on BC’s Panorama Campus and participants competed in a variety of physics activities. More than 200 students from twelve local high schools competed in the event, and one school went home with an award for earning the most points throughout the day.
Stephen Waller, Dean of Instruction at BC for Math, Science & Engineering, has helped coordinate this event for more than 15 years. “Today, we are hosting our annual Physics Olympics that we coordinate with Kern High School District,” he said, “which includes competitions set up by Physics faculty from the local high schools that cover different areas of physics including catapult launches, egg drop, bridge building, paper airplanes, and more.”
My introduction to you happened in the late 1990s.
I arrived in Los Angeles, a foreign graduate student, trying to understand America through textbooks and LA’s RTD routes.
And then I met you.
An institution built on virtues I could not quite comprehend.
Infinite hope. Untiring patience. Radical non-judgment. You met people where they were.
Not where they should have been. Not where someone thought they ought to be. But where they were.
You were born long before I met you in the Central Valley, where community colleges first took root in California soil. Practical. Accessible. Close to home. Built for possibility.
And then you spread.
From the Central Valley – Fresno, Bakersfield, Merced you reached into the Inland Empire – Riverside, San Bernardino out to the eastern edge of our state – the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, Indio up the North State – Chico, Redding across the Bay – Oakland, Hayward, San José down the Central Coast – Monterey, San Luis Obispo into Los Angeles – every corner, every neighborhood in LA and all the way to the borderlands – San Diego, Imperial Valley.
Across the Sierra foothills. Along Highway 99. Down the 5 and the 101.
Into farmworker towns. Into port cities. Into rural mountain communities. Into urban corridors. Where opportunity needed a doorway you became that doorway.
You evolved.
You empowered people. You improved constantly You innovated for students. You added programs. Added pathways. Added chances.
And over three decades, I have watched you love Californians by taking action in real tangible ways.
I have seen the foster youth who carried everything they owned in a backpack walk across a commencement stage because someone at a community college refused to give up on them.
I have seen the formerly incarcerated Californian who found purpose through education, completed a certificate, earned a degree, and now gives back to their community.
I have seen the veteran, resilient, carrying both visible and invisible weight, find a Veterans Resource Center and a faculty member who said, “You belong here.”
I have seen the student with a disability navigate hallways that were once barriers and find accommodations, allies, and a future not defined by limitation but by capacity.
You do not ask for perfection. You ask for effort. You do not require pedigree. You require courage.
Over two million students a year.
Two million stories of trying again. Starting over. Leveling up.
You are accessible. You are practical. You are relentless in your belief that Californians deserve more.
On this Valentine’s Day, I say it plainly:
I love you, California Community Colleges, – for your open doors. – for your stubborn optimism. – for believing in people before they believe in themselves.
You are California at its best.
And after three decades of watching you in motion … through reform, recession, innovation, and renewal,
I am convinced of this:
If there is an institution built on hope in America,
It is you!
With gratitude, admiration, and love Your chancellor, sonya
Toronto got slammed by a full-on blizzard, with thick snow and sharp winds messing up flight schedules. My flight to Toronto from LAX got cancelled and the one coming back spent over an hour on the tarmac being deiced.
Coming into Toronto after a blizzard had shut down Pearson –
And a lower altitude photo from the plane –
And a short video of the plane taxiing in Toronto –
Then back to California for a busy work week. Headed to Long Beach and then to Twentynine Palms to visit Copper Mountain College. Though small in size, the college has a wide reach and an outsized impact. In a geographically isolated area, Copper Mountain serves as both an educational anchor and a community hub.
Check out this fun selfie taken by our SSCCC student Valerie Pamphile – you can see Bill Rawlings and President Daren Otten at the back. And further back, Adrienne Brown.
And another great pic, this one with Julie Adams and Chris Ferguson added to the group:
Copper Mountain College has a tortoise preserve right on campus. The desert tortoise is an iconic species known for its long lifespan and remarkable ability to survive in harsh, arid conditions. It is endangered primarily because of habitat loss from development, roads, and energy projects, as well as disease and human disruption that threaten its fragile ecosystem.
The preserve at Copper Mountain protects this habitat, supports conservation efforts, and helps educate students and the community about caring for the desert they live in. It is pretty amazing that a California community college is literally helping safeguard an endangered species right on its campus.
Check out this 30-sec video of Professor Paul Delaney talking about the tortoise preserve being a natural laboratory for students.
Just a few miles away from the college is one of the most significant military installations in the country, the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. As the largest Marine Corps base in the world, it prepares service members for complex, large-scale combat operations and plays a critical role in national defense. The installation is also a major economic engine for the region, shaping both the workforce and the broader community.
Here we are with Colonel Ron Storer who was a wonderful story teller about the Marine Corps and the training provided at the installation. He praised the partnership with Copper Mountain College.
Good morning California. It is January 24, 2026. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Calbright Partners With Barstow Community College, Los Angeles Trade Technical College For Research Supporting Students
Calbright has entered into partnerships with two sister California community colleges to test new research that improves support for students’ basic needs, including access to food and health care. Pilot programs developed through that research showed promising results: Significantly more students in the pilot programs disclosed that they needed support and scheduled meetings with Calbright staff who can guide them through the California programs designed to offer support to qualifying adults. This includes programs such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs, that help millions of eligible Californians receive support for themselves and their families. Now Calbright will work with Barstow Community College and Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) to further test, develop, and expand that research.
Santa Rosa Junior College Receives STARS Gold Rating for Sustainability Achievements
Santa Rosa Junior College has earned a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), recognizing SRJC’s leadership and ongoing progress in advancing sustainability across academics, operations, and community engagement. STARS—the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System—is a transparent, self-reporting framework used by colleges and universities worldwide to measure their sustainability performance. Santa Rosa Junior College’s full STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website.
PBS SoCal Recognizes East Los Angeles College Child Development Center with Bryson Transformative Leader Award
PBS SoCal recently announced that the East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Child Development Center has been selected as the recipient of the John and Louise Bryson Transformative Leader in Early Childhood Award. The award recognizes the Center’s unwavering commitment to creating learning environments that value and empower every child and family in East Los Angeles and the greater Los Angeles Community College District.
Middle College Students Explore Emerging Technologies in Eight-Week Cohort at Moreno Valley College
Through an eight-week Experiential Technology and Engineering Cohort hosted by the iMAKE Innovation Center, 68 Middle College students from Wendy Sharkey’s fifth and sixth period classes engaged in hands-on instruction in emerging technologies this fall. The cohort was designed as an immersive, project-based learning experience that introduced students to artificial intelligence, microcontrollers, mechanical systems, sustainability concepts, and app development.
OC Register: Santiago Canyon College hopes to lead the way in AI for educators
Jason Parks is staring at a problem with a moving target of a solution. A problem that not only promises to get worse but comes with the chaser of potentially taking a wrecking ball to his institution’s purpose, mission and reason for being.
Scott James is trying to be the solution to that problem. It’s a job with a moving target of answers that is the academic whack-a-mole of the 2020s. And James finds himself holding the mallet and wondering where and what he’s going to smack next.
The problem is artificial intelligence, or AI, which is turning the world upside down. And as AI flips industry after industry on its head, few industries find themselves dealing with the falling debris and attack on purpose more than academia. This is why Parks, the vice president of academic affairs at Santiago Canyon College, and James, a professor and distance education coordinator at SCC, are trying to get ahead of the AI craze and turn the debris field into an intellectual garden.
Mic check. Yogi has something to say…Did you know you can check out snowshoes, podcasting kits, and more from the LTCC Library? It’s all part of the Library of Things (yes, that’s what we like to call it), thoughtfully curated by our library staff to support student success and made possible by our recent LTCC Foundation Student Success Grant.
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From San Diego College of Continuing Education:
Spring Institution Day was an inspiring reminder of the shared purpose that drives our work at SDCCE. From campus safety and student support services to academic excellence and innovation, the “heart work” our colleagues bring every day is creating progress for student success.
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From Ventura College:
We’re celebrating our centennial all year long! Last night our Learning, Equity, Achievement, and Persistence Division (LEAP) honored tutors and staff who have made exceptional contributions to Ventura College over the years Congratulations to the honorees!
Dr. Vandana Gavaskar Sandy Hajas Pedro Gaxiola Ouiall Ghazi David Oros Sara Sevilla
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From De Anza College:
Check out these photos from the @SVReads kickoff last week! Thank you to @profjohnapowell (The Power of Bridging), @KeeonnaHarris (Mainline Mama), Annie Hartnett (Unlikely Animals) and Sal Pizarro for making this an amazing event!
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And check out the first episode of San Bernardino Valley College’s Centennial Podcast:
Blast From the Past
I had to hop on the “back to 2016” trend I’ve seen going around social media. Here’s a pic from 2016 after Mayor Harvey Hall endorsed Measure J for Kern CCD:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Hosts Renegade Rally of Belonging to Promote Connection and Community
Bakersfield College was excited to welcome back students for the Spring 2026 semester. On the first day of classes, the BC Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life hosted the first ever Renegade Rally of Belonging. The event gave attendees a chance to learn more about various BC student resources, enjoy some delicious food, connect with fellow Renegades, and have fun!
The event included lively music, donuts, Ronnie Renegade, and a series of information tables for a variety of campus resources. The lively atmosphere provided the perfect environment for students to connect and take a quick break between their classes.
And you know what I am going to say….. what I always say…. What’s not to like about San Diego.
This photo looks surreal. There was a band playing at the amphitheater and people enjoying their Sunday evening.
Another –
On Monday, I spoke at the Veterans Symposium in San Diego, where I called on our colleges to fully embrace Credit for Prior Learning as a way to recognize and honor the military experience of our student veterans.
The energy in the room was inspiring—a powerful reflection of the shared commitment to those who have served.
I’m especially proud of the dedicated staff who lead this work across our system, with heartfelt appreciation for Heather McClenahen and her steadfast leadership of our Veterans Program.
Heather McClenahen, Sonya Christian, Gina Browne, Mia Keeley
Was happy to snap this picture with Marvin Martinez, Pam Haynes, Chris Ferguson
Good morning California. It is June 28, 2025. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Calbright College Connects Adult Learners with Work-Based Learning in High-Growth Tech and HR Careers
California’s only fully online statewide community college focused exclusively on adult learners working through a unique competency-based education model—today announced the launch of the Calbright Career Bridge Program, a new pilot initiative that integrates paid work-based learning experiences into its career support offerings for program completers.
Del Norte Healthcare District Donates $1 Million to College of the Redwoods
College of the Redwoods is happy to announce a $1 million contribution from the Del Norte Healthcare District in support of the college’s vision create a state-of-the-art healthcare training center on their Crescent City campus. This generous investment will fund advanced healthcare training equipment, helping prepare local students for in-demand careers in the healthcare sector.
Cloverlane Foundation Launches New Program for Nursing Students at Allan Hancock College
The nonprofit Cloverlane Foundation announced the launch of the Nurses Project, a new program to provide textbooks and other educational resources for nursing students with the initial savings for students of $35,000. Allan Hancock College is the first school selected to participate in what is intended to become a multi-college program.
Check out this selfie of the California Community Colleges executive staff with the EDUCATE. ELEVATE. Podcast’s “Best in Show” award from NCMPR:
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From San Diego College of Continuing Education:
The Cultural Events Taskforce came together for a dynamic summer retreat—reflecting on past successes, brainstorming fresh ideas, and laying the groundwork to strategically plan inclusive, engaging events for the year ahead.
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From Orange Coast College:
OCC students are studying abroad in Kyoto, Japan! They are learning all about drawing, watercolor and architectural history, all while exploring & getting inspiration from the breathtaking city of Kyoto.
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And From the Home of the Renegades
Umoja Celebrates 10th Anniversary
This year, Bakersfield College proudly marked the 10th anniversary of the Umoja Community ASTEP (African American Success Through Excellence and Persistence) program with a vibrant gala that brought together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members in celebration of a decade of achievement, growth, and unity.
Rooted in the Kiswahili word for “unity,” Umoja is more than a student support program — it is a powerful movement grounded in African American culture, identity, and educational equity. Over the past decade, Umoja at BC has helped foster student success by integrating culturally responsive curriculum, dedicated mentoring, and a strong sense of belonging.
The Workforce & Economic Mobility Blog blog shares approaches to workforce and economic development, with a goal of supporting economic mobility for our community while staying committed to the health of our people and the health of our environment.
In the Bhambi & Christian blog, Dr. Brijesh Bhambi join together joined together with the goal of facilitating healing and conversation in our community.
