I've been the President of the Peralta Board of Trustees for two years, a VP for one,  and was elected to the seat in 2018. During my leadership, we accomplished much in order to stabilize the District. Peralta has been plagued, for almost two decades, with accreditation, financial, and grave internal issues at all levels. For the first time in many years-- honest, intentional and structural changes are being implemented to ensure that the District is on solid ground for longevity.  In these four years,  we have staved off State takeover of the District;  effected real, structural changes that have taken the District off Accreditation Probation;  responded to creating adequate internal and position controls that  have been continued issues with FCMAT; responded to internal financial controls, FA issues and evidence and documentation that have  been material weaknesses on financial audits yearly ; responded and rebut Grand Jury allegations with evidence...  all amidst the many multiple issues which arose during amost  three years of the pandemic.

In terms of qualifications for the seat, I’ve been a faculty member in the California Community College (CCC) and CSU systems for over  twenty-five years and tenured for the last 15 years at West Valley Community College in the  South Bay. I was VP for my college’s Academic Senate  for six years and very active at the  Statewide Academic Senate (ASCCC), serving on committees such as Governance and Internal  Policies, Legislative Advocacy, Curriculum; co-authoring articles such as  Principles of Sound Faculty Evaluation  , Beyond the Classroom:  Fostering  local and Statewide Engagement in our Faculty , and  Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse:  If Not Now, Then When? ; and presenting on Academic Integrity and AB 1725 at many plenaries,  statewide CCCC CEO and Trustee (CCLC) and  ASCCC events.

Additionally, I have been a Commissioner on the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior  Colleges (ACCJC) since 2018 and am therefore intimately and experientially familiar with  accreditation, standards, institutional effectiveness, and institutional improvement. This expertise is rare yet important in that I know what is required of California Community Colleges and what best practice models exist in the four areas of accreditation:  Academic quality and Institutional Effectiveness; Student Learning and Support Services; Financial, Human and Technological Resources and in Leadership and Governance.

I have also been active on the CCLC as a member of the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) taskforce , giving presentations at CCLC townhalls on DEI and accreditation, as well as reviewing  and contributing to Title V changes re: DEI centered faculty hiring and faculty evaluations. 

These broad positionalities, from the micro to the macro, shape my understanding of the  system. Unlike many who sit in and/or run for this seat, my knowledge is deep and practical within the CCC system, regionally, statewide and locally – but also balanced by a thorough study of documents, data, information and larger context at hand.  

As a Trustee for Peralta CCD, my political philosophy is to serve our communities by ensuring we provide a solid foundation which  allows the the four Colleges to advance social and economic transformation for students and the community through quality education, rooted in equity , social justice,  environmental sustainability and partnerships. 

In sum, my philosophy is to fulfill the mission of the District by providing financial, technological, and infrastructural stability and accountability so that the Colleges' classified professionals, faculty, administrators  can accomplish the truly important work of changing students' lives through excellence in education.

Dr. Saleem Gilmore is an innovative higher education administrator in Student Affairs, leading student support service programs. Dr. Gilmore's approach to serving college students is grounded in his community-based experience as Executive Director at Leadership Excellence and faculty at Holy Names University, University of San Francisco, and California State University, East Bay. Saleem can lead teachers and staff to support positive academic and social outcomes for underserved students.

He graduated from Sonoma State University, earning his bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Biology before receiving his Master's degree in Education with a concentration in Secondary Education from the University of San Francisco. Most recently, Saleem earned his doctorate from CSU East Bay. Saleem is a husband and father of three.

As an Alumnus of the Peralta Community College system and an experienced faculty member, I am committed to small class sizes, quality instruction, and stringent fiscal oversight. Through regular engagement, I will ensure that my vision and goals align with the goals and needs of union representatives, faculty, staff, and students. I have led decision-making bodies, including chairing the Personnel Commission of Alameda County Office of Education and the Bond Oversight Committee Oakland Schools before terming out in 2022.

I want to use my experience and commitment to public service to improve student, faculty, and staff outcomes at Peralta College. I grew up in a union family.  I saw a positive difference that worker protections made in my grandparents' and parents' quality of life.  Peralta Colleges are uniquely situated to be a hub for education in the Bay Area. COVID has provided the opportunity to innovate and bring Peralta Colleges to world-class status as a pipeline for diverse, well-prepared scholars.  I have worked as a faculty, administrator, and commissioner/ committee member on decision-making bodies in the Bay Area. I am running for Peralta Community College Board to be a voice for faculty, staff, and students and to hold the system accountable for the opportunities that can come out of the crisis of COVID.

In summary, my focus as a Trustee will be to increase course offerings by leading the effort to hire a permanent Chancellor and administrative team that participates in the shared governance process to ensure that the leadership team is committed to responsible budget oversight and the success of our students. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Master of Arts in Education, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership for Social Justice. I will be a leading voice for sound fiscal management, including proper application of facility bond funds, small class sizes, and quality instruction.