Leading Community Colleges in California

In this episode, Dr. Galizio speaks with Cerritos Community College District Trustee Marisa Perez. Trustee Perez is a dedicated and community focused public servant, a STEM educated champion, and an advocate for equity throughout the California Community College system. Join us for this conversation with California Community College Trustees (CCCT) Board President-Elect Marisa Perez, where she talks about why she ran for the Cerritos College Board of Trustees and her ten years on board. She shares her achievements over the last decade and the culture change at Cerritos. Alongside her fellow board members, Trustee Perez has focused her efforts on AB 705 and discusses what progress has been made at Cerritos since its implementation.

Dr. Galizio speaks with State Center Community College District Trustee Deborah Ikeda about her leadership both at the state and national levels. At the state level, she currently serves as President of the APITA Caucus and is a member of the CCCT Board. In this episode, we hear Trustee Ikeda’s unique perspective having served as a college president and now as a trustee. She shares her family’s experience as Japanese Americans and her background with the Chicago City Colleges. Trustee Ikdea discusses her role as the founding CEO of Clovis Community College and what led her to run as an elected board member and serve on ACCT’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Dr. Galizio talks with the Equity Avengers: San Diego Mesa College President Dr. Pam Luster and Compton College President Dr. Keith Curry about their journeys as community college CEOs and how their equity-driven partnership has evolved. They give advice on how to become an equity-minded leader and share insights into their own approaches to leadership and relationship-building. Presidents Luster and Curry discuss work-life balance, burnout, and ways to stay energized and motivated about the work they do.

Dr. Galizio talks with Pam Haynes, California Community Colleges Board of Governors (BOG) President and Trustee at Los Rios Community College District. President Haynes talks about her time at Santa Monica College as a student, what led up to her post-secondary degree at Harvard University, and her involvement in re-districting Sacramento. They discuss her priorities as BOG President and her advice for new trustees that have recently entered into their role.

Dr. Galizio chats with Santa Rosa Junior College President/Superintendent Frank Chong about his life experience as an American-Born Chinese from New York City growing up during the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Chong shares his journey to becoming a college president and talks about his background in politics and tenure as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges at the U.S. Department of Education under the Obama Administration. He also discusses the importance of Asian Americans being represented in higher education administration and why it matters.