Sonya Christian's Blog

Our week started with a senseless tragedy in San Diego ….. One of our team members had his eight-year-old daughter at the school during the active shooter incident. She was among the 140 children inside the school and mosque complex at the time.

Here is an email I sent ….

On Monday, May 18^th, a horrific act of violence unfolded at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

There will be time for investigations, policy discussions, and broader conversations about hate, violence, extremism, and safety in our communities. But today, let’s simply pause to focus on three beautiful people whose courage helped prevent an even greater tragedy.

Let’s imprint their names, their faces, and their stories in our minds and hearts:

Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad who gave their lives protecting children.

140 children were inside the school and mosque complex at the time of the attack. In the middle of unimaginable danger, these men instinctively moved to action and helped save those children.

Amin Abdullah, a security guard who confronted the shooters, activated lockdown procedures, and warned staff and teachers inside the building.

Mansour Kaziha is a longtime elder and respected member of the mosque community.

Nader Awad is a community member who lived across the street from the Islamic Center.

These men acted out of love for their community and an instinct to protect children.

Our hearts are with the families of the victims, the Muslim community in San Diego, and all those impacted by this tragedy. As educators and public servants, we reaffirm our commitment to campuses and communities where every individual feels nurtured, respected, welcomed, and safe.

Let’s envelope our colleagues and friends in San Diego with warmth and love as they cope with this senseless tragedy.

With much love,
Your colleague,
sonya

Let us pray.

This week we had our May Board of Governors meeting.

Snapped this photo of a boat on the Sacramento River for you.

At this week’s meeting, we presented six honorees with the 2026 Classified Employee of the Year award.

The recipients are:

Misti Hardy, Shasta College

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Carmen Hirkala, Sacramento City College

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Lusyna Kim-Narvaez, Mission College

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Desiree Ortiz, Irvine Valley College

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Natalie Vázquez, Riverside College

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Crystal Villafaña-Tafoya, Barstow Community College

Congratulations to this amazing group, and thank you for all you do for our students!

Here is another great shout out to the apprenticeship work we are doing. Thank you to Gary Adams for sharing this update –

The CCCCO Apprenticeship Team was invited to present, along with DAS Chief Adele Burns and LAUNCH Director Charles Henckles, at the 2026 Apprenticeship for America Annual Summit in Washington, D.C. on the nation leading innovation and investment that California’s community colleges (the nation’s largest system of workforce training and development) are undertaking in the first of its kind statewide and regional employer engagement network, called LAUNCH.

Our session had over 200+ attendees (see photo below) and we were interviewed by the American Association on Community Colleges by their workforce team, who videotaped the interview for posting to the website and listserve. Our time is now and we must be bold in our visioning of the future of apprenticeship and work-based learning as the core career education strategy of the nation’s largest system of public higher education – Gary Adams

Good morning California.
It is May 23, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

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From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Los Medanos College showcases research at 10th Annual STEM Symposium

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Los Angeles Valley College MESA Team Wins HackMESA 2026

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Berkeley City College Celebrates OakTown Leaders Graduates

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Contra Costa College Foundation Erases the Debt of Nearly 200 Graduates

Nearly 200 Contra Costa College students woke up to a surprise this morning: A text informing them that the CCC Foundation has paid off their outstanding fees and tuition.

This initiative applies to all Contra Costa College Spring 2026 graduates who qualify for California residency under California’s tuition structure. That includes refugees and other immigrants who qualify for in-state tuition under California law.

On average, each student carried about $173 in remaining debt. While that amount may seem small, for many students balancing school, work, and family responsibilities, this relief represents something much bigger: a clean slate.

» Read more!

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In Case You Missed It

New tool allows college student parents to compare resources across campuses

Using The California Student Parent Resource Hub, parenting students can check if campuses offer on-campus childcare, family-friendly study spaces, food pantries and academic support. They can also verify if schools have in place the resources that the law requires them to provide, such as a webpage with information for student parents and designated lactation spaces on campus.

Students can find detailed information about specific campuses, compare colleges by viewing their resource profiles side-by-side and search for campuses that provide the resources they are specifically interested in. The database also collates information on progress made by the California Community Colleges, California State University and University of California systems in providing legally required resources and highlights schools with particularly good programs.

» Read more!

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Who Will Staff the AI Economy? They’ll Be Community College Grads

The emerging AI workforce is actually a vibrant tapestry of trades and occupations, spanning healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, and retail, each with its own version of AI integration and its own skill demands. What’s missing is a trained middle tier of workers who understand AI well enough to work with it, manage it, and apply it in their specific field. 

That missing middle is the mandate community colleges are uniquely built to answer, and which becomes more critical by the day.

Community colleges already educate more than 40% of the American workforce. They are deeply embedded in their regions, accessible to working adults, and structured around applied learning by partnering with local companies. No other type of institution is better positioned to train the people who will staff the AI economy at scale. The question is, does the policy and industry infrastructure exist to support them in doing it?

» Read more!

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Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Sheri Horn Bunk of the Taft College Foundation:

I had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful dinner at Ella’s in Sacramento last night with some esteemed guests. My gratitude goes to Assemblyman Stan Ellis for organizing a fantastic evening. Special guests included Sonya Christian, Keetha Mills, Karen Sue Yarrow-Zuber, and Rob Duchow, all of whom expressed their support for our Non-Profit of the Year award.

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From American River College:

Co-hosted by the Electronics Technologies and Welding departments, the Solar Contest on May 9 challenged student teams to race head-to-head constructing professional ground-mount solar systems. This electrifying event showcased a powerful blend of grit, technical gear, and cross-disciplinary teamwork.

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From Imperial Valley College:

Twelve Imperial Valley College agriculture students recently showcased their project-based field research at the University of California Desert Research and Extension Center (UC DREC) in Holtville.

Through hands-on drip irrigation system trials, students demonstrated innovative approaches to water management while gaining real-world experience in agricultural science.

This partnership highlights IVC’s commitment to experiential learning and preparing students for careers in Agri-STEM.

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From Cañada College:

Recently, the Promise Scholars Program and TRIO Program took students on an inspiring visit to the University of San Francisco, where they explored campus life, academic programs, student resources, and transfer opportunities at a four-year university. Students connected with peers, learned more about the university experience, and envisioned their future educational journeys.

To wrap up the day, the group visited the California Academy of Sciences, exploring interactive exhibits, marine life, and incredible science and natural history collections.

The trip was a fun and enriching experience that blended college exploration, community building, and hands-on learning opportunities.

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From Foothill College:

Thank you, Assemblyman Marc Berman and Foothill-De Anza trustee, Laura Casas, for joining our Emerging Technologies team to learn about Foothill College’s groundbreaking work in Artificial Intelligence and robotics.

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And From the Home of the Renegades

Bakersfield College Holds 2026 Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations to the Bakersfield College Class of 2026.

This past Friday, we celebrated the dedication, perseverance, and hard work of every graduate who crossed the stage. We are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished.

Bakersfield College is honored to serve this community and the students who make our mission meaningful. Wishing the Class of 2026 every success in the next chapter ahead.

Check out the stream from the Commencement Ceremony:

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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