September District Service Center Roadshows
On September 10th and 11th, the District Service Center leadership joined me in visiting each of the colleges. It was a great experience engaging with colleagues about our strategic vision to create a unified, equity-centered district, streamlining programs, aligning resources, and forging clear, student-first pathways that remove barriers, accelerate success, and set a new standard for community college excellence. I provided more information about how our Shared Governance process, leveraging three new Task Forces plus existing committees, will get us to our vision.
In addition to our long-term plan, we've implemented several immediate improvements. We launched monthly HR Office Hours at each college, introduced Student Success Navigators for seamless peer support, and upgraded technology to improve the enrollment process. These immediate actions, alongside new safety measures like the PeraltaSafety App and recent facilities updates, plus the new shuttle bus service for students starting on December 1st, are designed to enhance the experience for both our students and employees as we move forward with this crucial transformation. I want to thank the Presidents and their teams for being such gracious hosts.
We wrapped up the roadshows with a presentation here at the District Service Center on October 10th. More information is posted on Peralta Gems, including a link to the slides that were presented.
Real College California Basic Needs Survey Results
In spring 2025, the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (The RP Group) partnered with the Community College League of California’s CEO Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce (which I chair) to assess trends in food and housing security among California community college students. Nearly 77,000 students from 102 colleges responded to the 2025 Real College California survey.
All four Peralta Colleges participated in the survey. On September 24th, Alyssa Nguyen and Dr. Katie Brohawn from the RP Group and I hosted a webinar to present the 2025 data. The challenge with meeting students' basic needs is real; two out of three community college students in California lack reliable access to food or housing. That's right: two-thirds of California community college students face at least one form of basic needs insecurity. Specifically, 46% reported being food insecure, 58% reported being housing insecure, and 20% reported experiencing homelessness.
These insecurities directly impact academic success. Students facing basic needs insecurity are significantly more likely to earn non-passing grades than their food and housing-secure peers. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach:
The report was covered the following day by the national publication, Inside Higher Ed. Armed with this new data, I’ll be working closely with the college presidents and our amazing Basic Needs Coordinators (Izzie Villanueva, Jeremy Simmons, Katrina Santos, and Susana Abdurahman) as we continue to do all we can to help make sure students have the food and housing necessary for their success.
CoA Transportation Technology Center Ribbon Cutting on September 30, 2025
On Tuesday, September 30th, College of Alameda President Melanie Dixon and her team hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of the new Transportation Technology Center. What a glorious day it was!
The Transportation Technology Center represents a $36 million investment, made possible by the taxpayers of our service area through Bond Measure G. The state-of-the-art facility consolidates COA’s Automotive Technology, Auto Body and Paint, and Diesel Mechanics programs and serves as a "launchpad" that will equip students with the necessary skills for meaningful, high-wage careers in the Bay Area.
My thanks to everyone who helped make it happen! From JK Architects to Roebbelen Project Management, Alten Construction, and the faculty, like Rick Greenspan, Blair Norton, and many others who helped inform the design, to the taxpayers who funded it, this was a true community effort. I’m also grateful to Board President Quindlen, Trustees Withrow and Gonzalez-Brito, and Student Trustees Malik and Migliaccio for your attendance and support.
October 6 Student Leadership Mixer
Speaking of the student trustees, Kudos to Ahyan Malik and Léo Migliaccio, who demonstrated their leadership by organizing a mixer for Associated Student Government leaders from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College. The mixer took place at Merritt College on Monday, October 6th, and included 30 student participants from the colleges. Trustee Nicky González Yuen and I both had the honor of addressing the group before the student trustees took over for an exhilarating conversation on the importance of student voices in shared governance, and how to increase student participation in government at the college level, but also in local, state, and national government.
That was a terrific meeting, and I’m looking forward to following up on some of the many excellent ideas that were discussed. My thanks to the student trustees for organizing a terrific program. I also want to thank Merritt College President Dr. David M. Johnson for providing the space, and Ms. Tachetta Henry from my office, who helped arrange the food.
October 8 Parcel Tax and Bond Oversight Committee Meetings
On Wednesday, October 8th, this boardroom was very busy! Both the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee and the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee had meetings that day. It’s great to see these important committees for citizen oversight of Peralta spending both functioning well.
My thanks to the college presidents for attending the Parcel Tax meeting and sharing their spending plans for parcel tax funds for this academic year. I know the committee members, including Robert Shoffner, William Higgs, Myoshi Broadnax, Irene Kisch, Tammy Le, Doug Lindsey, and Thomas Mulvihill, appreciated your participation and input.
You heard from Bond Committee Chair Jeff Cambra at our September 9th board meeting, when he provided the oversight annual report affirming the District is spending bond funds appropriately. It’s great to see them now working on their next annual report with construction project updates from Greg Nelson and Amy Marshall. Other members of the Bond committee include Joby Thomas, Mark McComb, Tarrell Gamble, and Benjamin Scott. My gratitude to all the members of these important citizen oversight bodies.
World Premiere of First Chance Best Chance U. on October 10, 2025
Last Friday night at halftime of the Laney College football game, as part of Laney’s Alumni Night festivities, we had the World Premiere of “First Chance Best Chance U.”
In 2020, Laney College football was featured in season five of the acclaimed Netflix series, Last Chance U. It was an incredible show with some masterful storytelling about Laney, our students, and Oakland itself.
First Chance Best Chance U. is a look back on that experience five years later, and an opportunity to catch up with the student athletes and reflect. It was a thrill to watch it on the Jumbotron! My thanks to Athletic Director John Beam, Head Coach Joshua Ramos, current team members, and particularly to former players Dior Scott, Nu'u Taugavau (who’s now a coach!), and Nahshon Wright for participating in the documentary.
The video was produced and directed by Joe Sullivan and Mark Johnson from our Marketing Department and was brilliantly edited by Joe. It's available now on Peralta’s YouTube channel and coming soon for broadcast on our cable TV station, which is Comcast Channel 27 or 28, depending upon where you live in our service area.