KCCD CEOs welcome you back faculty and staff to spring 2022 in-service
as we gear up for our students
KCCD continues to #DareMightyThings
Thought I would start my blog by sharing the books I read this past year.
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
“The bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns with a “compelling” (The Washington Post) account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies.“
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Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard
“In her most ambitious novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard returns to the themes that are the hallmarks of her most acclaimed work in a mesmerizing story of a family—from the hopeful early days of young marriage to parenthood, divorce, and the costly aftermath that ripples through all their lives.”
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The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
“Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?”
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Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer
“We are living through one of the most anxious periods any of us can remember. Whether facing issues as public as a pandemic or as personal as having kids at home and fighting the urge to reach for the wine bottle every night, we are feeling overwhelmed and out of control. But in this timely book, Judson Brewer explains how to uproot anxiety at its source using brain-based techniques and small hacks accessible to anyone.”
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Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity by Scott Galloway
“The COVID-19 outbreak has turned bedrooms into offices, pitted young against old, and widened the gaps between rich and poor, red and blue, the mask wearers and the mask haters. Some businesses–like home exercise company Peloton, video conference software maker Zoom, and Amazon–woke up to find themselves crushed under an avalanche of consumer demand. Others–like the restaurant, travel, hospitality, and live entertainment industries–scrambled to escape obliteration.
But as New York Times bestselling author Scott Galloway argues, the pandemic has not been a change agent so much as an accelerant of trends already well underway. In Post Corona, he outlines the contours of the crisis and the opportunities that lie ahead. Some businesses, like the powerful tech monopolies, will thrive as a result of the disruption. Other industries, like higher education, will struggle to maintain a value proposition that no longer makes sense when we can’t stand shoulder to shoulder. And the pandemic has accelerated deeper trends in government and society, exposing a widening gap between our vision of America as a land of opportunity, and the troubling realities of our declining wellbeing.”
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The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Kamala Harris
“From Vice President Kamala Harris, one of America’s most inspiring political leaders, a book about the core truths that unite us, and the long struggle to discern what those truths are and how best to act upon them, in her own life and across the life of our country.”
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Divided we Fall by David French
“David French warns of the potential dangers to the country—and the world—if we don’t summon the courage to reconcile our political differences.
Two decades into the 21st Century, the U.S. is less united than at any time in our history since the Civil War. We are more diverse in our beliefs and culture than ever before. But red and blue states, secular and religious groups, liberal and conservative idealists, and Republican and Democratic representatives all have one thing in common: each believes their distinct cultures and liberties are being threatened by an escalating violent opposition. This polarized tribalism, espoused by the loudest, angriest fringe extremists on both the left and the right, dismisses dialogue as appeasement; if left unchecked, it could very well lead to secession.”
I was thrilled back in December 2020 when the ACCJC Learning Seminar Series welcomed David French as a featured speaker at our session “Learning to Stand Together: A Call for Higher Education to Bridge the American Divide Through Equity.”
The full video from that discussion is below. It’s about an hour but worth the watch.
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Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
“She was a fierce dissenter with a serious collar game. A legendary, self-described “flaming feminist litigator” who made the world more equal. And an intergenerational icon affectionately known as the Notorious RBG. As the nation mourns the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, discover the story of a remarkable woman and learn how to carry on her legacy.”
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Untamed by Glennon Doyle
“There is a voice of longing inside each woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good partners, daughters, mothers, employees, and friends. We hope all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to be grateful, hiding our discontent—even from ourselves.
For many years, Glennon Doyle denied her own discontent. Then, while speaking at a conference, she looked at a woman across the room and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There She Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high. But she soon realized they had come to her from within. This was her own voice—the one she had buried beneath decades of numbing addictions, cultural conditioning, and institutional allegiances. This was the voice of the girl she had been before the world told her who to be. Glennon decided to quit abandoning herself and to instead abandon the world’s expectations of her. She quit being good so she could be free. She quit pleasing and started living.”
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The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
“From The New York Times-bestselling author of The Mothers, a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white. The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?”
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The Guest List by Lucy Foley
“The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.”
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Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs by Michael Osterholm
“Unlike natural disasters, whose destruction is concentrated in a limited area over a period of days, and illnesses, which have devastating effects but are limited to individuals and their families, infectious disease has the terrifying power to disrupt everyday life on a global scale, overwhelming public and private resources and bringing trade and transportation to a grinding halt.”
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Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond by Lilly Ledbetter
“The courageous story of the woman at the center of the historic discrimination case that inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act–her fight for equal rights in the workplace, and how her determination became a victory for the nation.”
This past June, The California Community Colleges Women’s Caucus was honored to have Lilly as a speaker for Lilly Ledbetter Equal Pay Event. It was truly inspirational to hear her story directly from her, as she shared her experience in fighting for equal pay for equal work.
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Good morning, friends…
It is January 8, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KCCD.
This week, the Pirates, the Coyotes, and the Renegades continue to
#DareMightyThings
Porterville College
Six PC volleyball players earn All-Central Valley Conference honors
Victoria Dabney (Second Team) were three of six 2021 All-CVC selections.
Following the close of the 2021 regular season for the Porterville College women’s volleyball team, six members of the Pirates earned All-Central Valley Conference postseason honors.
Leading the way for Porterville was second-team All-CVC selection Victoria Dabney. The freshman outside hitter was the Pirates’ primary threat on offense this season, leading her squad with 192 kills, 534 attempts, 52 total blocks, and a 2.31 kills per set average. Dabney’s 126 digs ranked second on the team. She came to PC from Porterville High School.
Named All-CVC honorable mention were sophomore middle blocker Madison Doty (Monache HS), sophomore middle blocker Paige Borges (Strathmore HS), sophomore outside hitter Emily Kissick (Strathmore HS), sophomore setter Jordan Castaneda (Farmersville HS), and freshman outside hitter Kaitlyn Keovilaysane (Porterville HS).
The Pirates wrapped up the season with a 10-14 overall record and finished fifth in the final Central Valley Conference standings with a 7-9 mark under head coach Pete Rasmussen.
PC hosts series of events to connect with the community
Services Primavera Arvizu, Stafford’s Chocolates owner Rob Taylor,
and PC President Dr. Claudia Habib attend the event.
The PC Student Services team is removing barriers to success while sharing some great treats with the community. Over the next several weeks, the department will be holding several registration events in popular Porterville Gathering Spots, all in an effort to make registration as EASY as possible for our community – meeting potential students where they gather with mobile registration services and staff on hand to answer questions and provide guidance and support.
The first of these events was held on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at Stafford’s Chocolates, a very popular coffee shop and local hangout right in the center of Downtown Porterville. The next event will be held on Wednesday January 12 at Centennial Park, also in Downtown Porterville.
registrants at Stafford’s Chocolates
out in PC Gear for PC Day at the shop
These events allow anyone to ask questions and get help with registration as they go about their daily errands. The setup of these events allows PC staff to assist potential students with registration as they are stopping into their local morning spot for coffee or when they are on the way to do banking or get something to eat for lunch. Staff will be on hand at each of these “pop-up” registration events to make the process simple while addressing concerns about the cost of college by showing students how to easily sign up for financial aid and other programs that will help students pay for tuition, books, and other supplies needed during their time at PC.
Men’s basketball has impressive start on and off the court
We are very proud to report that, not only has the Porterville College men’s basketball team had the best first half start to a PC Basketball season in over 20 years (8-2), but they finished the Fall semester with a team 3.0 Grade Point Average!
These scholar athletes (10 Freshmen and 2 Sophomores led by head coach Amaurys Fermin) have VERY bright futures ahead of them! We can’t wait to see what happens next!
The Pirate’s next home game is on Wednesday, January 12th as they face West Hills Lemoore. Come out and show us that #SeaOfRed!
Cerro Coso Community College
Cerro Coso Faculty Joins Smart Justice Think Thank
Peter Fulks, professor in Administration of Justice, is a member of the inaugural Smart Justice Think Tank, a coalition of higher education champions and directly impacted leaders. The SJTT will develop a guiding framework for scholars, advocates, practitioners, legislators, and re-entry organizations in post-secondary higher education in prison and on-campus programs.
They will seek to address incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students’ unique needs as they strive toward academic success and their career goals.
College Admissions Workshop
Cerro Coso Community College will hold a college admissions workshop on Monday, January 10th, from 12-1 pm. Students will get information on how to apply, as well as guidance on best practices or any other questions students may have.
Students who take advantage of this workshop will be able to attend classes this spring semester!
For more information, contact Outreach Director Katie Bachman at (760) 384-6353.
Dave’s Scholar: Julia Sarver
Check out this letter from Dave’s Scholar Julia Sarver, who graduated in December:
The importance of being a Dave’s Scholar for me is that I have been able to start my educational path in nursing without a financial burden. With the help of this scholarship, I have already received my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license, and I am about to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).
After I graduate in December, I will take my NCLEX state test to become licensed and start working as a nurse. In the spring, I plan to continue my education to complete the rest of my prerequisites for a Registered Nurse (RN) program. I believe I have another three more years of schooling to become an RN if I am accepted into a program right away. With so many nursing schools being impacted, I know I will have to work hard to achieve my goal. Ultimately, my goal is to receive my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Being a Dave’s Scholar has helped me save money to help me pay for the school that is to come. I am very grateful to be offered an opportunity like becoming a Dave’s Scholar.
Thank you,
Julia Sarver
Bakersfield College
BC’s Catalytic Converter Etching Event with Kern County DA’s Office
BC’s Auto Technology team held a Catalytic Converter etching event in partnership with the Kern County DA’s office on Saturday, December 11th, 2021. These license plate number etchings make it easier for law enforcement to identify potentially stolen parts. There has been a significant rise in catalytic converter thefts in Kern County over the past 2 years. KGET reported that 2,224 catalytic converters were stolen in 2021 in an article about a surge in crime dated 12/30/2021. The Catalytic Converter Etching event was reported by KGET on 12/8/2021 and KERO on 12/9/2021.
Bakersfield College Prepares for the Spring 22
BC is gearing up for Spring 2022! Flex week begins next week with lots of Professional Development workshop opportunities for faculty and staff.
On Thursday, January 13th 2022, will be the Opening Day.
Bookstore employees are busy preparing to fill book orders for the Bakersfield College students. There is still time to register! BC is holding a Virtual Registration Rocks Event on January 12th, 2022 from 12-5 PM. Come join the Renegades! Spring 2022 begins on January 16th, 2022.
Christmas Tree Recycling
Christmas time is an exciting time of bright lights and beautiful trees brought into the house and decorated in festive ornaments and lights. When the season is over, these trees are discarded and those that end up in landfills produce methane as they decompose which exacerbates the climate change problems we are facing. Every year, Bakersfield College hosts a Christmas Tree Collection site where the City picks up the trees and properly recycles them at no charge to our community. BC is continuing to collect trees through Monday January 10th, 2022 at 11:00 PM in the southwest parking lot (P16) at the corner of Haley and University.
Spotted on Social Media
Recently, Traco Matthews – a great leader in our community and dear friend of Bakersfield College – lost his mother. I was so inspired by this post from his father, Philip Matthews. This 5:18 video shows the family coming together in song to grieve:
https://www.facebook.com/100000001334580/videos/4665607673506343/
To the Matthews family: your beautiful family and music to bring peace in this sorrowful time is an inspiration to us.
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Wendy Gerhold — a beautiful soul
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My tweet on the passing of Sidney Poitier
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Also this week, Monika Scott shared this photo from a previous commencement at Bakersfield College – I love seeing the crowd packing the Memorial Stadium to celebrate our amazing students. Seeing this photo helps me relive every graduation ceremony. Thank you Monika!
I saw that the Arvin High We the people team was recognized as the 21st Congressional District champions for the We the People Competition. Good luck at state!
And Porterville College is holding Porterville College Day at Centennial Part on Wednesday, from 9 am to 4 pm!
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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!
The future is bright at KCCD.
-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor
#KCCDDaringMightyThings
