Years of Service Celebration

On Friday, May 2, 2025, the college community came together to celebrate the countless years employees have contributed to the lives of students and the unwavering commitment CoA has to the community. We honored employees with 5+, 10+, 15+, and 20+ years of service to the College or Peralta District. We celebrated over a delicious meal with laughter and joy filling the room.

We gave flowers to those Nickey Heredia and Chungwai Chum, for making the day magical. Their tireless efforts made the day a memorable one for all who attended this first-of-its-kind event. Thank YOU!

We acknowledged employees dedicated to shaping the lives of students in and out of the classroom.

We distributed Excellence Awards to those who personify the CoA spirit through high-quality service, academic innovation, and community engagement. Our students voted Jeremiah Potti as the Student Excellence Award winner. Ann Gormley, VP of Operations for Associated Students, shared a personal story about how Jeremiah impacted her life by providing support and creating a warm environment, making students feel safe and welcomed. Dean Celhay received the Administrator Excellence Award for creating a calm and safe environment during a time of uncertainty. Her leadership and compassion were emphasized in the feedback supporting the nomination.

Our classified professional constituency group selected Selwyn Montgomery as the Classified Professional Excellence Award recipient. One nominee highlighted Selwyn as a bright light and represents he essence of CoA. His willingness to help anyone in need is a great reminder of the importance of showing up for one another in service to students. Our final awardee, OJ Roundtree, is a long-time faculty member in the Apparel Design and Merchandising (ADAM) Program. His tenure has influenced the lives of his colleagues, students, and community partners. Professor Roundtree is not only a top-notch educator, but he is also an incredible human being passionate about his craft. It’s apropos for the first Faculty Excellence Award to be given to Professor Roundtree. We congratulate all of the Excellence Award winners for modeling excellence and leadership.

College of Alameda Showcase

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, CoA hosted the Board of Trustees meeting, providing a unique opportunity to display academic programs and support services available to our students. Members of the Board of Trustees arrived on campus at 4 PM to take a tour of the following areas:

• New Transportation Center - Auto Body/Auto Tech and Diesel Mechanics
• Basic Needs Center and Pantry
• Art Gallery and Department
• Apparel Design and Merchandising Program

We offered two spotlight presentations during the regular session:

• Derek Piazza, Apparel Design and Merchandising (ADAM) Program
• Jeremy Simmons, Basic Needs Center

Both presentations were informative and impactful. Attendees left the meeting inspired and we look forward to the opportunity to highlight other programs and services in the future. We extend a special thanks to Mark Johnson, Faiza Ali, Angel Hunter, Joe Sullivan, Bendi Yilmaz, Marcus Creel, Cecy Vazquez, and Dom Abney.