Chancellor's News Brief

Yesterday, at the District Office, we celebrated our State of the District event with colleagues from each of our colleges and district sites. We were also joined by community partners and staff from many local legislative offices. It was truly a pleasure to share the successes of our colleges and students with them.

A few of the highlights from the past year include OCC’s agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard, which allows students completing the Professional Mariners Program to enlist as non-commissioned officers. Golden West College’s partnership with Cal State San Bernardino to offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing at GWC campus was another major milestone—a great compromise, considering community colleges are still restricted from offering their own bachelor’s degrees. Finally, Coastline College achieving accreditation as the first California college to offer an associate degree in business using Competency-Based Education (CBE).

The District’s work was also highlighted, particularly CalOptima Health’s $2 million grant to support nursing and radiologic technology programs, strengthening pathways with local high schools and our success advocacy for AB1805(Ta) which adds Mendez et al v Westminster et al to K-12 curriculum. We also showcased OCWorks the county-wide Web-based Platform designed to connect employers seeking employees, labor market data, and our career education centers.

After the District overview, each college president had an opportunity to speak about their respective colleges. Each of them began their presentations by expressing gratitude to the faculty and staff at their institutions for their collective work. Vince Rodriguez, President at Coastline, reminded the audience of the college’s innovative history, starting as a campus without walls focused on distance education. He tied that culture of innovation to their current work in CBE. Following Vince was Meridith Randall, President at Golden West College, who shared her college's new proposed Vision “Elevating Students to their Highest Potential.” She also congratulated Golden West for achieving its highest-ever CTE completion rate at 81.3%, a true reflection of the dedication of both faculty and students. The final speaker was Angelica Suarez, President at Orange Coast College, who spoke about the impact of innovation in career education through academic collaboration. These efforts were exemplified this fall when OCC received a sustainability award from the Board of Governors for their Campus-to-Table project, which combined the disciplines of marine science and horticulture to develop an aquaponics lab.

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone in attendance for your continued support and commitment. Together, we are creating pathways for our students to succeed and ensuring that our colleges remain at the forefront of innovation and excellence in education. Thank you for being part of this important event and for the collective work we do to shape the future of our students and community.

With gratitude,

Dr. Whitney Yamamura

Chancellor

Please send examples of persistent innovation, by which I mean having a good idea and then putting in the hard work to make that vision a reality. The more examples submitted, the better I can highlight your successes in future letters and in the community!

Recently more than 117 educators, administrators, and CBE advocates from across California gathered virtually for “The Next Evolution: CBE in Our CCCs”, a full-day conference focused on sharing best practices and the impact of Competency-Based Education (CBE) in community college programs. As part of Coastline-led Regional Strong Workforce Program, Innovations in Instruction, the event was successful in bringing together academic leaders from Orange County and beyond to learn about the impact and implementation of the first pilot CBE programs in California Community Colleges. Dr. Isela Ocegueda, Vice President of Instruction at Coastline College, kicked off the event by highlighting Coastline’s PACE+ program before introducing the college presidents for the welcome address. Dr. Vince Rodriguez (Coastline College), Dr. Mark Sanchez (Southwestern College), and Dr. Martha Garcia (Mt. San Antonio College) shared the purpose, challenges, and successes of launching CBE programs on their campuses. Spotlight sessions from each college offered deep dives into their unique approaches, featuring Coastline’s innovative Business Management AS program, Mt. SAC’s workforce-aligned Kinesiology ADT, and Southwestern’s Automotive Technology AS program. Afternoon roundtables sparked rich discussions on CBE operations, faculty roles, and instructional design, bringing together voices from across California and out of state. The event closed with reflections on the future of CBE, celebrating the strong engagement and collaboration that will continue to shape community college education. Attendees praised Coastline for its support and leadership in CBE. The Vice President of Quality Assurance & Accreditation from Competency-Based Education Network (CBEN) commented, "C-BEN is honored to stand side-by-side with the California Community Colleges in this impactful work.”

Golden West College’s Campus Life, in collaboration with the Associated Student Government, hosted a “Club Expo” event on Tuesday, February 25, featuring more than 20 clubs and organizations.

Each semester, “Club Expo” allows clubs to set up physical booths for students to explore and learn more about opportunities to get involved on campus. Students are encouraged to visit multiple booths to discover new opportunities and interests. Those who visited six or more clubs were able to enjoy free lunch wraps from the Green Tomato Grill.

This year’s event featured a mix of long-established clubs and newer campus programs, including the Native Scholars and Allies Club and Golden Pride, among others.

For those who did not have the opportunity to participate in Tuesday’s event, Campus Life also offered an additional “Club Expo: After Dark” event on Wednesday, February 26 from 4 - 6 pm.

The Coast Community College District Board of Trustees approved Patricia Falzon as the new OCC Foundation Executive Director at its meeting on February 19, 2025. Falzon was selected following an extensive search and will begin in her new role on March 3. She replaces longtime Foundation Executive Director Doug Bennett, who retired in December 2024.

“We are thrilled to welcome Patricia Falzon to Orange Coast College,” says OCC President Dr. Angelica Suarez. “Her extensive experience in higher education and private industry, along with a proven record of securing transformative gifts and fostering lasting donor relationships, will be invaluable as we continue to uplift and inspire students to achieve their educational goals.”

With over two decades of experience working in the Orange County community, Falzon is returning to the OC after serving as Executive Director of Principal Giving for Queen’s University in Ontario Canada since 2020, where she led the university’s principal gifts program, securing an impressive $303 million through gifts ranging from $5 million to $100 million since 2020.

“Patricia Falzon’s passion for philanthropy and strategic leadership make her an excellent individual to lead the OCC Foundation,” says OCC Foundation Board Chair Jeff Hyder. “With a long and successful legacy built through the dedication of a committed Board of Directors and strong community partnerships, the Foundation is well-positioned for continued growth. We look forward to working with Patricia to build on this legacy and create new opportunities that will support student success and transform lives for generations to come.”

Prior to her role at Queen’s University, Falzon led fundraising and community engagement initiatives as a Senior Director of Development with California State University, Fullerton and University of California, Irvine. She has also served as an advancement leader at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa and the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach.

“Orange Coast College has long been a cornerstone of our vibrant local community and one of California’s leading community colleges,” says Falzon. “I am deeply honored to join this thriving campus community and look forward to collaborating with my campus colleagues, the OCC Foundation Board, as well as with supporters and alumni to advance OCC’s legacy of student achievement and community enrichment.”

Falzon holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Toronto and a diploma in Performing Arts Management from Confederation College of Applied Arts.

Chancellor, Week of March 3

Dr. Yamamura is in the District Monday through Wednesday.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Serban is Acting Chancellor on Thursday & Friday.