Tag Archives: Shasta College

July 25, 2026

Uncategorized July 26, 2026 Leave a comment

This week was back to Sacramento for the July Board of Governors meeting.

Then back home to my boy Neo.

And a happy birthday to Louise Brown, born July 25, 1978. The first “test tube baby,” born after in vitro fertilization – one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of the 20th century.

Good morning California.
It is July 25, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Santa Ana College Team MEKAH Named NASA ORBIT Finalist

Four Santa Ana College students who are members of the STEM Core program were named finalists of the NASA ORBIT challenge. NASA Orbit is a competition where university and community college students across the nation develop commercial applications of NASA patents to solve problems on earth or design next-generation technologies for space exploration. As a reward for advancing to the finalist phase, the team received $15,000 in NASA funding to further develop their project and travel to Houston, Texas for the culminating event hosted at the NASA Johnson Space Center.

» Read more!

Airplane Cabin Simulators Help Cypress College Students
Train for Real World Scenarios

Two airplane simulators now offer students hands-on training for cabin crew in the Aviation and Travel Careers department. This semester’s Passenger Services and Safety class, led by Kathleen Reiland, were the first to use the new simulated environment. The cabin trainers represent Boeing 737 and Airbus A-320 aircraft. The primary purpose of these airplane door trainers is to provide hand-on procedural training for cabin crew members in normal, abnormal, and emergency scenarios, according to ATC Department Chair Captain Ed Valdez.

» Read more!

A group of individuals sits in a mock airplane cabin while a person stands nearby, possibly giving a demonstration or lecture.

San Diego Miramar College Entrepreneurship Program
Offers Second Chance for Students at Miramar Brig

A partnership between Miramar College and the Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar, is opening doors for incarcerated service members – offering not just educational opportunities, but a pathway to reinvention. Through the Rising Scholars Network, students housed at the military prison can now pursue an Associate of Science in Entrepreneurship, as part of a statewide initiative supporting currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. Miramar is the only community college in California currently offering a full degree program inside a federal military correctional facility. 

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Human + AI: Leading the next workforce transformation

For more than a century, community colleges have responded to major economic shifts, continually redefining their role in preparing America’s workforce. They expanded during industrialization, adapted to the rise of advanced manufacturing, embraced the information age and became the nation’s primary engine for workforce development. Artificial intelligence (AI) represents the next major workforce transformation and presents a defining leadership challenge for community colleges.

Public discussion of artificial intelligence often centers on job loss. Although automation will reduce demand for some tasks, this framing is too narrow. AI is transforming the way people work by shifting routine and analytical tasks to intelligent systems while expanding the role of human expertise.

» Read more!

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How to reimagine the community college library for student success

Community colleges are serving students with increasingly diverse needs. Many students balance jobs, caregiving responsibilities, financial pressures, and educational goals that rarely follow a traditional path. They are also navigating commuter lifestyles, technology gaps, challenges with basic needs, and educational systems that can feel fragmented and difficult to access.

At the same time, many campus libraries still reflect an earlier model built around physical collections and quiet study. As student expectations evolve, institutions have an opportunity to rethink what a library can be.

For community colleges, the library may be the last building on campus capable of stitching together academic support, basic needs, technology access, and a sense of belonging into one visible student success destination.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Shasta College:

One last post before we bid farewell to our international students from Soonchunhyang Univeristy. Biology class is FUN, especially when President Frank drops by and tours the completely remodeled greenhouse on campus with us!

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From Norco College:

Yesterday, we celebrated the end of another successful academic year with our classified professionals group photos!

Celebrating who we are, the invaluable work we do, the students we serve, and all our achievements from 2025–2026.

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From Allan Hancock College:

Congratulations to Hancock alumn Jamal Gragston on earning a spot in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s prestigious National Science Foundation summer research program!

We’re incredibly proud to see Jamal building on the strong STEM foundation he developed at Hancock

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From Ohlone College:

That’s a wrap! Cheers to our Theatre and Dance Department’s Summerfest Production of Urinetown the Musical. Let’s give a round of applause to our students for putting on this fun, satirical show.

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Hosts A Series of Early College Academies

Last week, the Dual Enrollment and Early College Department at Bakersfield College hosted the Early College Launch Academy and the Early College Level Up Academy. The first event was designed to introduce new students to the program and the second to guide returning students through the ‘next steps’ of the program. The goal is to help students feel confident and prepared for their Early College journey before the start of the academic year.

During the free one-day events, students learned about dual and concurrent enrollment, financial aid resources, campus resources, student responsibilities, navigating college tools, and much more. Students also got to participate in a variety of interactive activities and workshops all designed to engage attendees while sharing important details about the Early College Program.

» Read more!

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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

Let us pray

Uncategorized May 23, 2026 Leave a comment

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 18th, 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

**

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

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Los Medanos College showcases research at 10th Annual STEM Symposium

LMC’s 10th Annual STEM Symposium, featured 48 poster presentations and about 200 student scientists who conducted research in chemistry, biology and biochemistry. Presentations included experiments using essential oils to break down plastics, research on the effects of natural versus synthetic fertilizers on earthworms, testing varied procedures for creating catalysts to break down plastics, and more.

» Read more!

Los Angeles Valley College MESA Team Wins HackMESA 2026

The LAVC MESA (Math, Engineering & Science Achievement) Program teams won first place of HackMESA 2.0 and best Video Game Design during the second-annual MESA student-led hackathon in downtown Los Angeles. The HACKMESA 2026 competition brought together 150 registered students from 15 MESA programs across the state—from Oakland to San Diego—for a 24-hour hackathon to build real projects, gain industry experience, and launch their tech careers.

» Read more!

Berkeley City College Celebrates OakTown Leaders Graduates

Berkeley City College hosted a graduation ceremony for nearly 90 Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) dual enrollment students completing their early education youth pre-apprenticeship through the OakTown Leaders teacher preparation program. Graduates participated in an earn and learn model that allows students to gain college credit while in high school, creating a clear and structured pathway into careers in education and related fields.

» Read more!

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!

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!

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.


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

May 16, 2026

Uncategorized May 17, 2026 Leave a comment

Was in San Francisco this week – and here’s a video from my first Waymo ride!

Good morning California.
It is May 16, 2026
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Cerro Coso Community College Celebrates First CDL Graduate

Cerro Coso Community College proudly celebrates Gavin Hopkins, the first student to complete the college’s new Commercial Driver License (CDL) program, earning his Class A Driver’s License on February 25, 2026. Hopkins successfully passed his licensure examination on his first attempt after completing the college’s two-course non-credit training series. The program is designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the high-demand trucking industry through comprehensive instruction that combines classroom theory and hands-on driving experience.

» Read more!

College of the Redwoods to Launch Flexible 8-Week Course Pilot in Fall 2026

College of the Redwoods is rethinking the traditional college schedule with the launch of a new 8-week course pilot program set to begin in fall 2026. The initiative aims to increase flexibility, improve student success, and expand access to higher education. The pilot emerged from a grant-funded initiative supported by Achieving the Dream and the California Community College Foundation, with a directive to explore shorter course formats. From there, the college had the flexibility to design a model that best serves its students.

» Read more!

Coastline College’s ECHO Conference Unites California Educators
Around Equity and Student Success

Coastline College’s ECHO Conference (Equity-Centered Holistic Outcomes in Education), formerly known as the Teaching for Equity Symposium, was a great success, bringing together educators, students, and community leaders from across California. The event focused on collaboration, dialogue, and advancing equity in education. This year’s theme, “Rooted in Hope, Growing in Kinship: Advancing Equity, Empowerment, and Belonging,” invited participants to explore how equity-minded practices can foster community, opportunity, and transformation.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Adult Learners Are the New Norm

As institutions nationwide navigate the enrollment cliff, new research from the University of Kansas and Florida International University suggests that older, working and commuting students may exhibit characteristics linked to stronger persistence and completion—suggesting ways that colleges can engage with adult learners.

The study examined institutional data from the 2023–24 academic year at a large, four-year Hispanic-serving research institution in the southeastern U.S., including for more than 7,000 undergraduates in the engineering and computing programs.

Researchers found that students older than 25, those working full-time, commuters and students with dependents demonstrated better academic outcomes, including retention, six-year graduation rates and cumulative GPA. The findings suggest that characteristics often viewed as barriers may not necessarily hinder student success.

» Read more!

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9.9 Million Students Now Eligible for Pell Grants, According to New GAO Findings

A total of 9.9 million students were eligible for Pell Grants in 2024-25 – 6% more than the prior year, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, or GAO. The report also found that 31% more students were eligible for the maximum award of $7,395 that year, and that much of the rise in eligibility rates took place for students with household incomes of $60,001-$125,000.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Clovis Community College:

Spring Extravaganza hit different this year – music, food, games, and just good vibes all around. Everyone outside and actually enjoying campus life! Now this is what spring supposed to feel like.

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From Allan Hancock College:

A huge thank you to Chumash Casino Resort for donating more than 600 men’s and women’s suits to Hancock’s Career Closet. These gently used professional clothes will help students show up confidently for job interviews, internships, and new career opportunities.

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From Norco College:

Check out these moments from last week’s Yoga Health session! May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Remember, you are important. Your mental health is crucial. Let’s come together to prioritize our well-being!

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From Shasta College:

Really excited to attend the Scholarship Award Ceremony and celebrate the accomplishments of our Knights who were awarded scholarships to help their academic pursuits! Thanks to the Shasta College Foundation, we were able to give out $904,303 to deserving students. Congrats!

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From Ohlone College:

Hip-hip-hooray! Cheers to our Ohlone College MEChA and Puente graduates for walking the stage at this year’s MEChA/Puente Graduation. We celebrate our #Latinx students for reaching this important milestone and for their dedication to participating in MEChA and Puente.

And From the Home of the Renegades

Industrial Automation Students at BC Showcase Their Senior Projects

The Industrial Automation Department at Bakersfield College recently hosted their Senior Project Open House. The event took place in the robotics lab in the Science and Engineering building on BC’s Panorama Campus. The students proudly displayed their projects and were ready to answer questions while putting their projects into action. The senior projects are part of the requirements to receive a bachelor’s degree in the Industrial Automation program.

The public event attracted students, staff, and community members eager to see the senior projects. The projects focused on a wide variety of subject areas including agriculture, robotics, industrial processes, and more. There were more than a dozen projects on display and each one represented a culmination of an entire semester of planning, preparation, and work.

» Read more!

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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

From the Capitol to the Central Valley ….

Uncategorized April 25, 2026 Leave a comment

This week it was from the Capitol to the Central Valley …

Earlier in the week, we participated in Assembly budget and policy hearings in Sacramento.  Then headed to Fresno to speak at the CVHEC Summit

And back home to my boy Neo.

Also, check out Board of Governors member Cirian Villavicencio’s new YouTube channel – Navigating College with Dr. V.

Here’s one of his recent videos – “Meet Your College Success Team”:

Good morning California.
It is April 25, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Cuesta College Awarded $1.2M STEM Scholarship Grant

Cuesta College has been awarded a six-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation through its Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program. The grant will support low-income students pursuing degrees in computing and engineering. The project will provide scholarships alongside comprehensive academic and career support to help students persist, transfer to four-year institutions, and succeed in high-demand STEM fields.

» Read more!

Porterville College’s “Entree to Employment” Bridges the Gap
Between Classroom & Career

The Porterville College Transfer Center, in partnership with the Office of Instruction and the Career Education Department, recently hosted a groundbreaking event designed to redefine how students and local industries connect. Moving away from the traditional, often impersonal job fair model, the “Entree to Employment” dinner provided a high-contact, low-stress environment where students and business partners could engage in authentic dialogue over a world-class meal.

» Read more!

Santiago Canyon College’s New Water Sciences Lab
Will Enhance Classes in Water Technology

A new, modernized water technology classroom is in final planning stages for the Santiago Canyon College campus that will feature state-of-the-art equipment to help train students for well-paying careers in water districts throughout Orange County and beyond. The new lab will enhance SCC’s substantial Water and Wastewater Technology program. 

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Why Two-Year Schools Are Higher Education’s Fastest-Growing Sector

When the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center released its final enrollment data for Fall 2025 in January, the headline told a familiar story with a striking new intensity. Total postsecondary enrollment in the U.S. rose by 1.0% in fall 2025, reaching more than 19.4 million students, and growth in undergraduate enrollment was driven by a 3.0% surge in community college enrollment, compared to a 1.4% increase at public four-year colleges. Private four-year institutions, meanwhile, saw enrollment declines.

The scale of the community college resurgence is difficult to overstate. Community colleges added approximately 173,000 more students in Fall 2025, a 3% increase that drove the overall undergraduate gains across all of higher education. Over a two-year span since Fall 2023, the sector has grown by 9.6%, compared to just 4.1% at public four-year institutions.

» Read more!

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Insights from ‘Some College, No Credential’ learners

Approximately 43.1 million people in the United States have, at one time, enrolled in postsecondary education but did not complete their intended degree or certificate.

A new report from Trellis Strategies attempts to answer those questions. In spring 2025, researchers surveyed 3,182 former undergraduate students who had been enrolled across 58 institutions – including 33 community colleges – to get to the heart of the matter.

More than a third (36%) of survey respondents were first-generation students, 25% were parenting students and 72% were working while enrolled.

Though a majority of survey respondents said they believe in the value of higher education –73% said that re-enrolling and completing their degree would improve their career earnings and potential – there are barriers to completion.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Check out this photo from the Designing Pre-Apprenticeship Pathways event:

If we do a BCP for FY27-28 for additional funding for ELL Healthcare Pathways, we are considering earmarking the first $25 million to expand community college pre-apprenticeships as mechanism to help scale apprenticeship.

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From Shasta College:

We’re really excited for the student-designed project by the 1100 building! Students from the landscape construction class designed and are landscaping the area into what we think will be nice place to study once it’s done. We can’t wait to see how it turns out!

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From Gavilan College:

Earth Day recap: we touched grass. Literally.

Gavilan broke ground on the Community Garden with campus partners and students.

Good turnout. Great energy. Strong start.

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From Hartnell College:

The Career and Transfer Hub hosted its annual Career and Resource Fair in the Student Center yesterday, bringing together over 85 employers and 300 students to explore careers and connect with employment opportunities. The event also served as a resource hub, where students learned about career pathways, transfer options, and in-demand skills.

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From Moorpark College:

Our final MC Day at Simi Valley High School. Thank you for having us! Great connecting with students and sharing all things Moorpark College!

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And check out this video from Cypress College’s Transfer Fair

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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 Love Letter to the California Community Colleges on Valentine’s Day 2026

Uncategorized February 14, 2026 Comments: 12

Dear California Community Colleges:

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

Sonya Christian's Blog