May 2009 - San Diego Community College District

San Diego Community College District
City College
Mesa College
Miramar College
Continuing
Education
with excellence
May 2009
Succession Planning
Turns Leadership Shortage Tide
Story on page 6.
Here are some of the estimated 58 SDCCD faculty, classified staff and administrators enrolled in doctoral programs, plus one who received her
doctorate mid-year. Back row (from left): David Fierro, Randy Barnes, John Lindem, Wahid Hamidy, Chris Sullivan, Shalon Michael Akili. Middle row (from
left): Justin Akers-Chacon, Gabrielle Gosselin, Pamela Kersey, Shelly Hess, Marilyn Harvey, Julianna Barnes, Jill Baker, Gail Conrad, Bernice Lorenzo. Front row
(from left): Jill Moreno Ikari, Susan Mun, Rosa-Elena Pilco, Josolyn Hill, Sandra Pesce, Nesha Savage, Joi Blake, Otto Lee.
Chancellor’s
Message
Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D.
Chancellor, SDCCD
Community Colleges
Step up to the Plate in America’s Recovery
All too often in the history of our nation, the federal
leadership has turned to the four-year and research sectors of
higher education for help in solving America’s problems. The
various national institutes have emphasized funding for research
universities and four-year colleges in their efforts to catalyze
new developments, and other agencies have followed a similar
pattern.
The nation’s community colleges have never had the level
of prominence that they should have commanded in federal
initiatives, although community colleges have continued
to do yeoman’s work in transforming the lives of the vast
majority of students and serving as powerful economic engines
in the employment transformation of their states and local
communities.
It therefore was a welcome surprise for community college
leaders to hear the words of our new president, Barack Obama,
who, as they say, “gets it.” He not only understands the
importance of college-level education as the foundation for
jobs in the new economy; he also understands the key role that
community colleges play in this arena.
On February 25, 2009, President Obama addressed both
houses of Congress in a speech that included the following
words:
It is our responsibility as lawmakers and as educators to
make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every
citizen to participate in it. So tonight, I ask every American
to commit to at least one year or more of higher education
or career training. This can be community college or a fouryear school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But
whatever the training may be, every American will need to
get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of
high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on
yourself, it’s quitting on your country — and this country
needs and values the talents of every American. That’s why
we will support — we will provide the support necessary
for all young Americans to complete college and meet a new
goal: By 2020, America will once again have the highest
proportion of college graduates in the world. That is a goal
we can meet.
In the San Diego Community College District, we find
ourselves at the end of a very difficult year of fiscal crisis
in the state of California, with all of the sudden turns of
fortune that occur when an organization of the size of this
state is in turmoil. We now find ourselves confronted by
the new initiatives that are coming with American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act funding through the aegis of the local
workforce investment boards. The news of ARRA funding
and the call for program and project proposals, even though
beneficial, could not have come at a worst time.
However, in the spirit of the President’s effort, we are
dusting ourselves off from all the budget cutting, taking a deep
breath, and rising to the challenge of producing the new and
expanded program directions that are needed to put people
back to work. In our view, it is the very least we can do, and it
is well worth the effort.
2 san diego community college district
Terrence J. Burgess, Ph.D.
President
San Diego City College
Study Abroad
Explores New Paths
City College Anthropology Professor Stephen Bouscaren
and 29 students traveled last fall to Buenos Aires, Argentina
— a trip made possible by a $6,500 California Colleges for
International Education grant to help develop and implement
a new model for semester-length study abroad programs.
The new model was deemed a success. According to City’s
International Education Coordinator Marion Froehlich, the
objectives of creating a new model were to:
• Lower costs significantly by selecting a non-traditional
but very attractive location where the exchange rate is
favorable for the U.S. dollar.
• Hire on-site instructors to infuse a local perspective
into the curriculum.
• Enhance student opportunities for obtaining
scholarships traveling abroad. (Within the
Argentina cohort, four City students along with
one from Mesa and another from Miramar were
awarded scholarships.)
To cut costs, two weeks of anthropology coursework
was conducted in San Diego before departure. Expenses
were further reduced by recruiting college teachers based in
Argentina. Froehlich noted that Argentinean salaries are much
lower than U.S. salaries.
And instead of including the customary two City College
professors, only Bouscaren directed the ten-week program.
Area instructors were hired to teach Latin American history,
world music, and three levels of Spanish. They also provided
local knowledge of their native land.
Because of the intensive nature of the program, Bouscaren
said students felt comfortable enough with Spanish, Argentine
culture and travel that they ventured to distant parts of
Argentina and into other South American countries.
Of the 29 students enrolled in the study abroad, 14 were
from City College, nine from Miramar and Mesa colleges, five
City College Anthropology Professor Stephen Bouscaren
(far right, sunglasses) with his students in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
from UC and CSU universities, and one from Minnesota. Of
the 29 students, 25 extended their stay in Argentina.
In 20 years of teaching at City College, Professor Bouscaren
has also taught four, semester-long programs in Mexico and
one in Cannes, France. “I have seen student lives change.
Immersion in language, culture and customs is an invaluable
experience that broadens one’s way of looking at the world.”
President Terrence Burgess agreed. “There is no better
classroom than the world-at-large.”
This summer, City College is offering its seventh annual
Spanish immersion program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Paris,
France is scheduled for this fall. For more information, go to
www.sdcity.edu/studyabroad. Adios.
We—With Excellence | MAY 2009 3
Rita M. Cepeda, Ed.D.
President
San Diego Mesa College
Patricia Hsieh, Ed.D.
President
San Diego Miramar College
Rosa Parks Remembered
she was a warm and caring presence
To honor legendary civil rights activist
to many people,” said Chancellor
Rosa Parks and her special relationship
Constance M. Carroll, who served as
with Mesa College, a memorial will be
president of Mesa College during both
built this year at the east entrance of the
visits by the civil rights legend. “Our
campus.
students and faculty looked forward to
The Rosa Parks Memorial Project,
her visits to Mesa College, and all of us
which features a Metropolitan Transit
were overwhelmed by her combination
Stop and contemplation area, is designed
of humility and courage.”
to commemorate Mrs. Parks’ legacy of
Following her death in 2005 at the
quiet strength and courageous 1955
age of 92, the Mesa College Foundation
act on a public transit bus in Alabama.
explored the possibility of honoring the
The memorial project is scheduled
late civil rights activist with a memorial
for unveiling this fall. In addition, an
on campus. In 2007, Mesa College
on-campus commemoration of the 54th
reviewed proposals from a variety of
anniversary of Mrs. Parks’ act of civil
artists. The project was awarded in
disobedience is planned for December 1.
November 2008 to San Diego public
Mrs. Parks first visited Mesa in
artists Nina Karavasiles and Mario Lara
1992 after the college extended an
along with diversity specialist Dr. Gerda
invitation initiated by Music Professor
Govine-Ituarte.
Emeritus Elizabeth Hamilton and the
The Rosa Parks Memorial will be a
administration. Professor Hamilton
cornerstone of the newly reconfigured
had been so moved by a music video
east gateway entrance and is the first
tribute to Rosa Parks that the teacher
of two MTS transit stops planned for
personally took out a $10,000 bank loan
campus grounds.
to bring the pioneer civil rights activist
to campus. Later
that year, Mrs. Parks
named Mesa as the
San Diego-Mexico
branch of the Rosa
and Raymond Parks
Institute for Self
Development and
returned to campus
for visits in 1993
and 1995.
“Mrs. Parks was
not only an iconic
figure of the Civil
Mrs. Parks flanked by Professor Emeritus Elizabeth Hamilton and
Rights Movement,
then-President Constance Carroll at Mesa College.
4 san diego community college district
Crisis Management in High
Risk Fields: Hero vs. Team
About the Memorial
The Rosa Parks Memorial
Project fittingly incorporates
a fully functioning
Metropolitan Transit System
bus stop as well as a “Quiet
Strength” reflection area.
Located on Mesa College
Drive at the east entrance of
campus, the memorial project
will feature the history and
images of legendary civil
rights activist Rosa Parks.
Above the bus stop benches
will be a shelter containing
photographic transparencies
of Mesa students. The
reflection area will also
include Terra Cotta-colored
concrete curved walls, seating
and a rose vessel.
Total cost of the project is
$150,000. Funding for the
Rosa Parks Memorial Project
is being provided by the Mesa
College Foundation with
support from Propositions S
and N funds.
The recent U.S. Airways crash landing
on New York’s Hudson River is the
kind of incident that Miramar College
Professor Amy Fraher examines in her
latest book, Crisis Management in HighRisk Fields, due out this fall.
Professor Fraher, the college’s Aviation
Operations program director, addresses
the issue of how teamwork is more
important than technical prowess in
averting disasters. The Hudson River
landing in January is a perfect example,
she says. “Airline pilot Sully Sullenberger
has been touted as a “hero” far and wide,
while the many others involved have
been relatively ignored.” This includes
the remaining members of the U.S.
Airways flight crew, air traffic controllers,
harbor police and other emergency
personnel who played significant roles in
saving every life on that flight. “Our
Miramar Aviation Professor Amy Fraher poses in
a Boeing 777 turbine.
Miramar Professor and veteran
pilot Amy Fraher.
culture, however,” she says, “has a
need to identify singular heroes.”
The retired U.S. Navy Commander
and former commercial airline pilot
is no stranger to high risk. On the
morning of the 9/11 attacks, Dr. Fraher
was forced to perform an emergency
landing of an airliner in Omaha when
the entire air traffic control system shut
down. In her career as a pilot, she has
logged approximately 5,500 mishap-free
flight hours.
Fraher has developed a popular
curriculum through the college’s
International Team Training Center
(ITTC) on group dynamics for high-
risk teams that takes her experiences
and concepts beyond the skies to other
high-risk employment fields. Several of
her students have worked at Sea World
as wild animal trainers. Firefighters,
police, military and medical personnel
have come from far and wide to enroll.
International students, including
members of the Special Forces from
Denmark and the Dutch police academy,
discovered the program through Fraher’s
books and through involvement with the
International Society for Psychoanalytic
Study of Organizations.
Funded by a $50,000 California
Community College Chancellor’s Office
grant, ITTC is an educational
organization
partnering academia
with industry to
advance career
technical
education and
support lifelong learning
for people working in highrisk professions. Miramar
College offers the only FAA-certified
aviation maintenance technology, pilot,
ground school and operations program
in San Diego County.
Professor Fraher is also a research
associate for Tavistock Institute of
Human Relations and The Grubb
Institute of Behavioral Science in
London; and principal consultant for
Paradox and Company in San Diego.
We—With Excellence | MAY 2009 5
Planning
A
whopping 79 percent of all
U.S. community college
presidents are expected to retire by
2012, and that percentage climbs to 84
percent by 2016, according to a recent
Iowa State University study.
In California, the San Diego
Community College District is among
the state’s leaders working to turn the
leadership shortage tide at all levels of
management. An estimated 60 District
faculty and staff are currently enrolled
in doctoral programs, while many other
employees are studying at the master’s
level.
“The importance of succession
planning cannot be overstated,” said
City College Dean Randy Barnes,
who is enrolled in an Ed.D. program.
“The complexity of the California
Community College system makes
it difficult to recruit leaders from
outside the system. Opportunities for
developing talent from within should
not be overlooked.”
Both California Community College
Chancellor Jack Scott, Ph.D., and
American Association of Community
Colleges President George Boggs,
Ph.D., commended SDCCD faculty
and staff for taking on the formidable
challenge of working on graduate
degrees while working full time.
Dr. Boggs noted that “the retirement
of today’s community college
leaders creates both challenge and
opportunity. It is a challenge to
prepare enough qualified leaders at
all levels and an opportunity to bring
greater diversity and new ideas into
community college leadership.”
6 san diego community college district
Dr. Scott and Dr. Boggs attended
the recent summit on the leadership
crisis held by the Community College
Leadership Development Initiatives
(CCLDI) at the University of San Diego.
Chancellor Scott said he was
impressed by the high number of
college CEOs that turned out for
the summit, which included a large
contingent of SDCCD administrators.
Dr. Scott and Dr. Boggs issued
kudos to Dr. Constance Carroll for
her leadership role in succession
planning and for encouraging faculty,
administrators and classified staff
members to further their education.
Chancellors Carroll and Scott were
among the state’s leaders that helped
establish the CCLDI in 2000.
Here is a small sampling of classified employees currently enrolled in Master’s Degree programs. In
back (from left): Linda Osborn (CE), Sam Shooshtary (Miramar), Monica Romero (Mesa). In front (from
left): Theresa Johnson (City), Rosa Castillo (CE), Johanna Bodnar (Miramar) and Kevin Branson (Mesa).
SDCCD Staff Enrolled
in Doctoral Programs
SUCCESSION
SDCCD doctoral candidates reported
that the District and colleges have
been supportive of their professional
development and expressed enthusiasm
about CCLDI.
District DSPS Director Gail Conrad,
enrolled in an Ed.D. program, pointed
out that CCLDI is the program that
“started my interest in leadership and the
move to administration. From the first
week-long seminar with Dr. Carroll, to
the presentations with CSU Prof. Nancy
Shulock, CCLDI stretches my thinking.”
Dr. Shelly Hess, District Curriculum
& Instructional Services dean, who just
completed her Ed.D., said she “would
not be where I am today if it were not
for the mentoring from the SDICCCA
Faculty Internship Program, CCLDI
Doctoral Fellowship program and CCLDI
institutes, and the state’s Chief Student
Services Administrators Association.”
City College Dean Julianna Barnes
recalled that midway through her
doctoral program, “my focus shifted
away from the acquisition of the degree
itself to the millions of students who need
committed, prepared leaders. Student
lives and the overall well-being of the
state depend on us.”
Name
Position/Title
Degree Program
University
City
Akers, Justin
Faculty
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Akili, Shalom M.
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of Phoenix
City
Barnes, Julianna
Dean
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Barnes, Randy
Dean
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Charlens, Erin
Counselor
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Coleman, Mary
Faculty
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Escalante, Virginia
Faculty
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
City
Fierro, David
Faculty
Ed.D
San Diego State University
City
Hammond, Belinda
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of California, Santa Barbara
City
Harvey, Marilyn
Faculty
Ed.D.
University of Southern California
City
Hill, Josolyn
Secretary
Ed.D.
Alliant International University
City
Kersey, Pamela
Faculty
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Knittel, Rebecca
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
City
Lorenzo, Bernice
Program Coordinator
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Perez, (Jose) Luis
Faculty
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
City
Pesce, Sandra
Librarian
Ph.D.
Capella University
City
Rodriguez, Maria
Faculty
DNP (Nursing Practice)
University of San Diego
City
Savage, Nesha
Counselor
Ed.D
San Diego State University
City
Slinglend, Nick
Faculty
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Cont Ed
Bale, Julie A.
Faculty
Psy.D.
Southern California Seminary
Cont Ed
Castillo, Sheyla
Faculty
Ed.D.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Cont Ed
Gosselin, Gabrielle
Faculty
Ph.D.
Western Institute of Social Research - Berkeley
Cont Ed
Howell, Lorie
Faculty
Biblical Studies
New Covenant Seminary
Cont Ed
Lindem, John
Faculty
Ed.D.
Argosy University
Cont Ed
Pilco, Rosa-Elena
Faculty
Ed.D.
Alliant International University
Cont Ed
McIntyre, Whitney
Faculty
Ph.D.
University of San Diego
Mesa
Baker, Jill
Librarian
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
Mesa
Blake, Joi
Dean
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
Mesa
Farnan, Linda
Faculty
Ph.D.
University of San Diego
Mesa
Heiser, Cecily
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Mesa
Hernandez, Jennifer
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
Claremont Graduate University
Mesa
Halcott, Joseph
Faculty
Doctor of Religious Studies
Trinity College
Mesa
Hoeger, Laura
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Mesa
Jones, Juli A.
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of Missouri, Columbia
Mesa
Karnyski, Margaret
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of South Florida
Mesa
Larson, Trina
Admin Secretary
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Mesa
Mun, Susan
Researcher
Ph.D.
Claremont Graduate University
San Diego State University
Mesa
Poje, Heather
Faculty
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Mesa
Pye, David
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Mesa
Rivera-Lacey, Star
Faculty
Ph.D.
Claremont Graduate University
San Diego State University
Mesa
Rogers, Denise
Faculty
Ph.D.
University of California, Irvine
Mesa
Root, Bradley
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Mesa
Steinberg, Alison
Faculty
Ed.D.
Pepperdine University
Mesa
Stutz, Christa
Faculty - Adjunct
Ph.D.
Texas State University
Mesa
Sullivan, Chris
Faculty
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
Mesa
Weisblat, Irina
Faculty-Adjunct
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
Miramar
Arancibia, Adrian
Faculty
Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Miramar
Couture, John J.
Faculty
Ed.D.
Nova Southeastern
Miramar
Flower, Patricia
Faculty
Ed.D.
University of California, San Diego
Miramar
Hamid, Wahid
Faculty
Ph.D.
Northcentral University
Miramar
Ikari, Jill A. Moreno
Faculty
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
Miramar
Lowe, Andrew
Faculty
Ed.D.
University of California, San Diego
California State University San Marcos
Miramar
Short, Duane
Articulation Officer
Ph.D.
Northcentral University
Miramar
Stewart, Wendy
Director, Transfer Center
Ed.D.
University of Southern California
District
Conrad, Gail
Director, DSPS
Ed.D.
San Diego State University
District
Hess, Shelly
Dean
Ed.D.
University of Nebraska
District
Lee, Otto
Vice Chancellor
Ed.D.
Fielding Graduate University
8 san diego community college district
And, he continued, “people working
in office support positions may be
fearful of losing their job, so many look
to self-employment as a way to protect
themselves from loss of income,” he
said. “At the same time, employers can
hire Virtual Assistants to do the work of
office staff that they once had, but had to
lay off. The time for a program like this
has never been better.”
Prof. Roma Weaver
Miriam Vasquez tackles work from home.
virtual assistant services could add value
to their business. Now armed with
specifics from Contreras, Vasquez was
able to quickly assess El Gallito’s business
needs and propose customized services.
Vasquez, a graduate of the
International Business College in Texas,
had never taken an online class until
enrolling at CE. “It was awesome
because I could continue my daily
routine and do assignments when I could
make the time,” she said.
Virtual Assistant classes are not widely
offered in community college systems,
but are increasing in popularity as the
word spreads about the effectiveness and
convenience of the program.
CE instructor Tom Smerk is one of
the very first to teach a Virtual Assistant
program in San Diego County. “Much
of the success of this program was due to
the fact that it was offered as an online
course,” said Smerk.
on California
Commission
Continuing Education
Professor Roma Weaver
has been appointed to
the California Federation
of Teacher’s Commission
on Adult Education. The
commission monitors
statutes and regulatory
policies that govern adult
education, and makes
recommendations that
impact enforcement of the
policies. Roma is program
and curriculum chair for
Continuing Education’s
Parent Education and Child
Development program.
Slam Field
Dunk House
Opens
A Virtual Solution for the Real World
Miriam Vasquez was searching for
something new. Over the years, she
worked many jobs as an office assistant,
but this type of employment no longer
made sense for the wife and mother of
three.
She needed to find a rewarding job
that allowed her to work from home
and set her sights on becoming a virtual
office assistant, completing a series of
Continuing Education online classes in
January.
Before finishing the coursework,
Vasquez established Ace Virtual
Solutions online and began searching the
virtual world for business. “I had my
first client lined up a few days before my
final class,” she noted.
Landing a client took only a short
time, thanks to a homework assignment
that required her to build a list of
business people that seemed to be in
need of office assistance.
El Gallito Ingles Tire and Service
Centers in Texas was on her list and
became her first client, but not without
some convincing. Not surprisingly, El
Gallito owner Rogelio Contreras had
never heard of a virtual office assistant.
Not a problem. Vasquez was prepared.
Another homework assignment had
called for creation of “a business website
to help people understand the services I
could offer,” she explained.
After Contreras reviewed her
website, he was still reluctant to hire
Vasquez. Fortunately, another class
assignment required creation of a client
questionnaire to help determine how
kudos
Accomplishments & Achievements
Anthony E. Beebe, Ed.D.
President
San Diego Continuing Education
With this spring’s opening
of the new Hourglass Park
Field House, Miramar
College now has a home
for its intercollegiate sports
programs, provides the
college with its first-ever
fitness center and represents
completion of the final
phase of a joint-use athletics
complex with the City of San
Diego.
The 32-acre Hourglass
Park Athletics Complex
includes a park with
multipurpose ball fields, which opened in 1994. Five
years later, a three-pool aquatic center opened.
The $26 million Field House features a 41,000 square
foot gymnasium, fitness center, classrooms, dance rooms,
lecture rooms, faculty and staff areas, and a concession stand.
Some 300 people turned out for grand opening festivities
on March 27 that began inside the gym. Attendees included
city officials, SDCCD trustees, Propositions S & N
Citizens’ Oversight Committee members, faculty, staff and
administrators from throughout the District, as well as builders
and designers of the facility.
Miramar College President Patricia Hsieh praised the
collaborative effort for making a “dream come true. As a
community college, it is important for us to provide a facility
that will allow people to engage in personal enrichment
activities.”
Chancellor Constance Carroll characterized the multiagency collaboration as a win-win for the public.
Student President Brittany Forester said, “You’re not
just investing in a shiny new building; you are investing in
Miramar’s students — your future community leaders.”
To conclude the ceremony, Miramar Basketball Coach Nick
Gehler asked star hoopster Patrick Eveland to make the gym’s
first basket. The student/athlete promptly slam-dunked with
the ease of a pro.
Need Parking? It’s here!
With a mini-convoy of student leaders poised for a
ceremonial drive-through, nearly 100 persons gathered to
celebrate the grand-opening of the new 1,100-space Mesa
College parking structure that was first conceived of 20 years ago.
“It is an amazing marriage between utility and sound
environmental design — an architectural marvel,” Mesa
College President Rita Cepeda stated. It is also an example of
determination, partnership and collaboration between the San
Diego Community College District, our campus neighbors,
taxpayers and the San Diego City Council, especially
Councilmember Donna Frye.”
Associated Students President Sebastian Law reported
that Mesa students are very pleased with the new parking
accommodations. “This means better grades now because
teachers give quizzes the moment classes start, and if you’re
looking for a parking spot, you’re not in the classroom.”
Holding up an oversized rendering of a parking ticket,
SDCCD Board President Rich Grosch ceremoniously tore it
in half and stated, “We know many of you have dashed to class
only to be late, and then dashed back to your car only to find
a parking ticket because you didn’t have time to continue the
hunt. No more!”
Chancellor Constance Carroll, who served as president of
Mesa College from 1993 to 2005, saluted the vision of former
Mesa President Alan Brooks for conceiving of the parking
structure project in 1989. “This is a great day of celebration
for us, a great day in the future of Mesa College.”
The parking structure is part of a $34 million East Campus
Improvement Project that includes a college police substation.
From left: Councilmember Donna Frye, Chancellor Carroll, A.S. President
Sebastian Law, President Rita Cepeda, Board President Rich Grosch,
building contractor Tex Barnhart and Vice Chancellor Dave Umstot.
We—With Excellence | MAY 2009 9
kudos
Accomplishments & Achievements
Mesa English Professor
Sondra Frisch (center) with
Coca-Cola scholarship winners
Brande Faris and Robert Steinberger.
Coca-Cola Scholars...SWEET!
Outstanding Business Educator
Two Mesa College Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society students are among 19
students in California — and the only community college students from San Diego
— to be named 2009 Coca-Cola Scholars. Robert Steinberger was named a Silver
Scholar and Brande Faris a Bronze Scholar. Both are psychology majors. Selection
as a Coca-Cola Scholar is based on scores earned in the All-USA Academic Team
competition and includes cash awards.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s program is administered by PTK. In an
e-mail to President Rita Cepeda, Steinberger said, “Mesa College has been a great
support to me both as a scholar and as a person…it is an honor to represent this
wonderful school. I want to especially thank the three extraordinary advisors of Phi
Theta Kappa Beta Beta Upsilon, Sondra Frisch, Dickson Phiri and Beate BermannEnn, who have all helped and supported me throughout this journey.”
Professor Frisch, charter faculty advisor for the college’s PTK chapter, said that “It’s
wonderfully satisfying to see achievements of students like Robert and Brande get such
recognition; they are an inspiration to other students at our college.”
The scholars received medallions and scholarship checks in March at an event
honoring them in Sacramento and was featured in a special section of USA Today on
April 6.
City College Computer Business Technology Professor Theresa
“Terri” Savarese has been selected as a 2008 Outstanding Business PostSecondary Educator by the California Business Education Association.
The award is issued for advancing business education through
innovative teaching, program development, business education
promotion, and student organizations.
Teaching at City since 1990, Savarese is certified as a Microsoft
Office Specialist (MOS) Master Instructor, an IC3 (Internet and
Computing Core Certification) Authorized Instructor, and holds an
International Computer Driving License — international certification
for computer literacy.
Professor Savarese has been a member of the statewide
Business Education Advisory Committee since 1990 and works
with educators throughout California to improve Administrative
Office Management curriculum.
“I have always wanted to make a difference in student lives, to
help them succeed in their work and personal lives,” she said. “I
help students not only with skill attainment, but I try to build their
confidence so they see their own potential and are able to succeed and be
productive, happy members of their families and society.”
Bridging the GAP
Bridging the Gap Between Teenagers and Parents provides
guidance for improving relationships with teenagers and repairing
damaged relationships.
Mother of two daughters, instructor and now published
author, Terry Louise Washington, authored the book and has
extensive experience repairing family relationships. She has a
master’s degree in human behavior and teaches effective parenting
classes for CE. She has also been active with community groups
and professional
organizations,
including the Youth
Focus Forum and
the California
Association for
Education of Young
Children.
Her book was
first published in
October 2008 by
Dorrance Publishing,
Pittsburgh, PA.
10 san diego community college district
Japanese-American
Pictorial History
A book by City College History
Professor Susan Hasegawa,
Japanese Americans in San Diego,
was recently published by Arcadia
Publishing.
The pictorial history traces
development of the Japanese
American community in
the San Diego area from the
1880s to the 1980s. The book focuses on JapaneseAmerican families who struggled to start small truck farms
and develop new techniques for improving crop production.
Hasegawa details how these resilient families overcame the
obstacles of World War II evacuations and incarceration to
build a thriving community for their families.
Professor Hasegawa spent the past decade researching and
writing the San Diego Japanese-American experience and has
been co-curator of historic exhibits throughout the region.
The book includes oral histories, photographs and personal
testimonies from the Japanese American Historical Society of
San Diego archives.
kudos
Accomplishments & Achievements
Exemplary Practices in Education
The partnership between Amgen, Inc. and Miramar College’s Southern California
Biotechnology Center (SCBC) is one of 15 programs statewide recently cited as
exemplary practices in education by the Campaign for College Opportunity (CCO).
A CCO published report, Practices with Promise, characterized the programs
recognized as being led by “educators that are taking enormous initiative to improve
college access and success.”
In light of this recognition, Dr. Sandra Slivka, director of the SCBC, was honored
at the SDCCD Board of Trustees March 26 meeting.
Through its Amgen Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Laboratory Program, the
international corporation partners area biotech industry leaders with educators such as
Professor Slivka to provide equipment and hands-on biotech training through summer
workshops for high school and college
students and teachers.
Co-founders of the CCO are the
California Business Roundtable, the
Mexican American Legal Defense and
Educational Fund and the Community
College League of California.
Professor Theresa Savarese with Business
Technology with student.
with excellence
May 2009
Published by the
San Diego
Community College District
Office of Public Information
& Government Relations
619-388-6500 • www.sdccd.edu
Editor: Richard Dittbenner
Assistant Editor: Mary Lee
Text Coordinator: John Nunes
Contributors: Ranessa Ashton,
Carol Beilstein, Heidi Bunkowske,
Lina Heil, Holly Leahy and Sandi Trevisan
Graphic Design: Cesar Gumapas
The San Diego Community College District is
governed by its Board of Trustees. No oral or
written representation is binding on the San Diego
Community College District without the express
written approval of the Board of Trustees.
We—With Excellence | MAY 2009 11
San Diego Community College District
Administrative Offices
3375 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108-3883
Board of Trustees:
Mary Graham
Rich Grosch
Bill Schwandt
Maria Nieto Senour, Ph.D.
Peter Zschiesche
Chancellor:
Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D.
San Diego Community College District Executive Vice President
Peter Zschiesche and Mesa College President Rita Cepeda have been
selected as the 2009 César E. Chávez Visionary Award recipients.
This marks the first time a community leader associated with the San
Diego Community College District received this award and the first
time two individuals were selected in the same year.
“Their work on behalf of equal opportunity and social justice for all
San Diegans is something in which we can all take pride,” Chancellor
Constance Carroll stated.
The award recognizes strong leadership, compassion and
commitment to excellence, integrity and justice. Issued by the San
Diego César E. Chávez Committee, the Visionary Award is presented at
the community organization’s annual March breakfast.