John Rizzo was the first member of his family to attend college. He worked as an engineer for a number of years before becoming a technology journalist and author of 14 books.
In 1999, John was appointed by the mayor to server on the Golden Gate Park Concourse authority, which oversaw a number of improvements in the Park, including the creation of bike lanes, widening pedestrian sidewalks, and building an underground parking garage.
John has been a Sierra Club activist since 1998, focusing on advocacy for green energy and climate change solutions.
As a member of the Community College Board at City College, John created the College's first local hire policy, led the effort to make the College a smoke-free environment, and steered the reform effort after several administrators were accused of corruption. John also co-authored the College's Sustainability Plan.
John served as President for three-years in a row and steered the college through the accreditation crisis. The San Francisco Chronicle calls John a "fiscal hawk" for his strenuous oversight of the college adminstration, but John feels that City College has a major role in promoting social justice in its mission. He successfully worked to make City College tuition free, which has opened doors for more students to acheive their dream of an education.
John is now working on building the first housing at City College for students, teachers and staff. And because of his advocacy at the Board, the College is building a much-needed Performing Arts and Education Center, which will not only serve City College students, but the San Francisco arts groups that are being pushed out of the city.
