Chancellor's News Brief

Congratulations on making it through the first week of the 2025 spring semester! Our enrollment is up by approximately 4.9% district wide. Thank you to all our colleagues in student services for their hard work in processing applications, registrations, educational plans, and financial aid, ensuring that our students could walk into our classrooms ready to learn.

Beginning a new term always comes with its challenges, but this January has brought additional stressors to our community. The devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, while not an immediate threat to Orange County, have deeply affected many of us with personal connections to those impacted.

Although I have addressed this topic in my previous two messages, it is worth reiterating. The ongoing developments in Washington, D.C., along with the extensive media coverage, have contributed to what is arguably one of the most impactful and divisive presidential transitions in recent history. While many of the executive orders issued thus far have not directly affected our operations, the confusion and uncertainty surrounding them have undeniably impacted our community—particularly our students, including those in the LGBTQ+ and immigrant and international communities. As educators, it is our responsibility to support and encourage our students. This year, more than ever, may require an extra effort of empathy and understanding for those feeling anxious or uncertain about the future.

The Coast Community College District remains committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students and employees.

With gratitude,

Dr. Whitney Yamamura

Chancellor

We offer supportive services to assist with mental well-being:

• Students can be referred to Student Health Services at:
• Coastline Student Mental Health Services
• Golden West Student Health Center
• Orange Coast College Mental Health Care
  
  
• Employees can access support through our Employee Assistance Program at:
• Emergency 24-Hour help line at 1-800-273-5273
• Non-emergency Visits at Reachline.com or email info@reachline.com
  
  
• An up-to-date FAQ related to our Undocumented students can be found here

At Wednesday’s board meeting, the trustees made a 5-0 decision to lease out their office space at the District Office. The decision to give up their individual offices and workspace in favor of shared spaces was an important step in collectively supporting the fiscal health and stability of the District. The space will be leased to serve as the Congressional District office for Congressman Dave Min, who represents the 47th District. This district includes the cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Seal Beach, as well as parts of Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods.

At the end of the meeting, after all the votes were taken on the regular business of the District, board members and employee constituent group presidents offered reports. Each trustee spoke about their involvement in local advocacy and learning opportunities on behalf of the students, as well as their participation in Lunar New Year celebrations. Chancellor Yamamura highlighted the district’s efforts in responding to concerns for our Dreamer and DACA students. Jeannette Grimm spoke about the OCC Classified Senate’s scholarship fundraising efforts.

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!

The 2025 State of the District will be held on February 27 (Thursday). Save the date and join us at 9:00 am in the CCCD Board Room.

Please RSVP by February 17 to publicaffairs@cccd.edu.

Join as Black History Month is celebrated through events and conversations through Coastline College, Golden West College, and Orange Coast College.

• Black History Month Parade & Cultural Faire
• Black College Expo and Battle of the Bands
• Welcome Back and Black History Month Opening Celebration - Orange Coast College
• BHM Speaker Series: Rhona Bolton
• Welcome B{L}ACK- Meet and Greet and Trivia (Virtual)
• Unity in Activism with Ken Nwadike Jr. - Orange Coast College

• BHM Speaker Series – Marcus Omari

• Unity in Our Voices Luncheon featuring OCC Students and Dr. Ron McCurdy– Orange Coast College

• 2025 Pathway Conference at CSU Fullerton

• Unity in Cultural Identity with Dr. Chike Akua - Orange Coast College
• BHM Speaker Series Breaking Barriers and Thriving: A Conversation with Tee Franklin

• Come Laugh with Me: Comedy Night

• OC Black Greek Get down –Region 8

Download Black History Month Zoom Backgrounds for your online meetings and events.

Coastline College welcomes Scott Wayman as the Director of College Foundation & Community Relations. Scott is an entrepreneur and leader with a passion for building innovative products and creating opportunities for growth. As the founder of Kangarootime, Scott led the development of a software platform that continues to power childcare centers around the world, streamlining operations and enhancing care for children and families. He considers the journey of inventing and building this platform one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.

Throughout his work in education, healthcare, and technology, Scott has had the privilege of collaborating with talented teams to solve meaningful challenges and bring impactful ideas to life. Along the way, he has helped raise nearly $100 million in venture capital to support these efforts, an accomplishment he credits to the strength of the teams and vision behind each project. He also serves as a mentor at Founder Institute, where he works with entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of launching and scaling startups.

Scott lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife, Jessica, a nurse who is passionate about helping patients manage diabetes. Outside of work, Scott enjoys creative pursuits like writing, video editing, and diving into random (and admittedly nerdy) tech projects that let him tinker and explore new ideas. He is also deeply passionate about fitness and training, dedicating time to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

Scott is excited to bring his expertise in value creation, innovation, and resource development to help the college stay ahead in the ever-evolving race for relevance in higher education. He hopes to contribute to creating new opportunities that amplify Coastline’s impact and support its mission of student and community success. Please join us in welcoming Scott to the Coastline College team.

Coastline College’s Le-Jao Campus in Westminster came alive with excitement as the community gathered for this year’s Lunar New Year celebration. The event was a resounding success, drawing a fantastic turnout of faculty, staff, and leadership. Trustees Mary Hornbuckle and Phu Nguyen joined the festivities, showing their support for the vibrant cultural tradition.

Guests enjoyed an array of delicious treats, lively music, and captivating entertainment. A highlight of the event was the traditional Lion Dance and red envelope ceremony, both cherished aspects of the Lunar New Year. Adding a unique touch to the celebration, Trustee Phu Nguyen surprised and delighted the crowd by showcasing his drumming skills, bringing an extra level of energy to the occasion.

With strong community participation and a joyful atmosphere, this year’s Lunar New Year celebration was a true testament to Coastline’s commitment to cultural engagement and inclusivity.

Golden West College will celebrate Black History Month in February with several events, including an art exhibition, cooking demonstration, comedy show and more.

This year’s celebration kicked off on February 6 with a guest talk by former Huntington Beach councilwoman Rhonda Bolton, the first in a Black History Month Speaker Series coordinated by all three Coast Community Colleges. Bolton’s talk focused on civic engagement and leadership.

The celebration will continue with a Black Veterans event on February 12 and a poetry reading, lecture and workshop by Marcus Omari on February 13.

A group art exhibition titled “The Will to Love” will open on February 18 in the GWC Gallery. Inspired by Bell Hooks’ All About Love, the exhibition examines the expression of love through community and spirituality, and how visual art can define the embodiment of love beyond its linguistic limitations.

A cooking demonstration also is slated for February 19 starting at Noon in the Student Union. This hands-on activity will invite students to learn about the history of “soul food” followed by a tasting. On Thursday, February 27 GWC’s Umoja program will partner with the College’s Golden Pride program to host award-winning comedian Sampson McCormick for a night of laughs in MPR 100.

Finally, the month will culminate in a “Black Greek Get Down” on Friday, February 28 at 11 a.m. in Forum 2. This event has been selected by the statewide UMOJA program as the “Homecoming Event” for Region 7 and will include a panel discussion with National Pan Hellenic Council members, a college meet and greet with 2- and 4-year students and faculty, and a performance featuring college step teams.

To see more details and registration links for Black History Month events, visit www.goldenwestcollege.edu/umoja/events

In response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Orange Coast College partnered with Abound Food Care in January to provide essential support for those affected.

A huge thank you to Instructional Food Services, Culinary Arts, and Food and Beverage Management programs for their incredible work in preparing thousands of hot, nutritious meals from scratch. Your efforts are making a real difference in our community!

Chancellor, Week of February 10

Vice Chancellor Drinkwine is Acting Chancellor on Monday through Thursday.

Coast Colleges is closed Friday (2/14) - Monday (2/17) in observance of Presidents' Day weekend.