San Joaquin Delta Community College DistrictCandidate for Trustee, Trustee Area 6

I was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in a nearby coal mining town. I was the first in my family to attend college and after getting an undergraduate degree in journalism, I worked in various fields of media for 18 years. After receiving an MA in education and another in theology, I came to California in 1992 to work on my PhD in biblical studies. I was director of online education at the Episcopal seminary in Berkeley before working as a program developer for CSU Stanislaus. I have also been a faculty member at the School of Ministry for the Diocese of Stockton for 17 years.

i was first elected to the Delta College in 2008, and re-elected in 2012 and 2016. As a trustee I have served as Board president twice. I have served on the Advisory Committee for Education Services of the Community College League of California for 10 years, and I am the principal trustee developer of the Excellence in Trusteeship Program, a competency-based curriculum for trustee education that has received State and national recognition. 
I have been a member of the San Joaquin County Public Authority Advisory Committee for In-Home Support Services for 18 years and have served several terms as president. I am a past board member and president of ARC San Joaquin and a supporter of United Cerebral Palsy in San Joaquin County. My adult daughter has multiple disabilities. She lives at home with me. I am her primary caregiver and a member of SEIU 2015. 

Education is the key to improving the income and quality of life, not just for individuals, but entire families. As a community college trustee, I am privileged to support students in the Central Valley take a smart step forward in academic and career technical education programs. 
When I completed my undergraduate degree at West Virginia University, I left Morgantown and never looked back. Our community college students come from the cities and rural areas in our District, and many of them plan to stay here, working and raising families. Even though I went away to college, I understand and appreciate the role community colleges play in the lives of people, and the economic development of the region. Staying close to home is important for many reasons--personal, cultural, and economic--and community colleges make higher education possible for more people because they are local, flexible and affordable. 

 Advisory committees help faculty understand the needs of local employers and keep the curriculum relevant and updated so our students are prepared for jobs when they complete their programs. Some of our graduates go on to four-year universities, and beyond. Others get jobs or open their own business. Community colleges are a launching pad for dreams and ambitions, and I get to watch it all happen.