Peralta Community College District employees recently gathered at Merritt College for a dynamic and engaging Flex Day focused on professional development. Organized by district-wide Professional Development Co-Coordinators Chelsea Cohen and Marla Leech, the event was yet another resounding success, bringing together educators from across the district to enhance their skills and prep for the Fall semester.
Merritt College President Dr. David M. Johnson kicked off the morning with a warm welcome. We heard an overview of the day’s programming from Chelsea and Marla. Attendees were also welcomed by Peralta Federation of Teachers (PFT) President Jeff Sanceri, District Academic Senate President Dr. Leslie Blackie, and the Peralta Classified Senate President Tachetta Henry, who all shared their optimism for the upcoming school year. The Welcoming speeches can be viewed on YouTube here.
After welcoming comments from district leaders, there was a fantastic Keynote presentation by Dr. Rogéair Purnell, Maeve Katherine Bergman, and Dr. Sunny Greene, who shared results from both the African American Transfer Tipping Point study and the Dual Enrollment for Equitable Completion (DE4EC) initiative. The African American Transfer Tipping Point research project was designed to determine the factors that impact Black students' likelihood of transferring and why such factors are salient to the Black student experience. Their presentation included additional data analysis about students at each of the four colleges within the Peralta District. Their session is now posted on the Peralta Colleges YouTube channel, so check it out. Their slides and more can be found on the Flex Day schedule here.
Later in the morning, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson shared her vision for 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. Her message included the call to “prune to grow” as we work to transform the Peralta Colleges over the next two years. You can watch it on YouTube here.
Flex Day finished with a wide range of sessions led by and for faculty, classified professionals, and administrators. A special treat over the lunch break was a tour of the Merritt College Natural History & Sustainability (NHS) Program Gardens led by Professor Elizabeth Boegel (who enthusiastically endorsed the science behind “pruning to grow”). About a dozen participants of the tour learned more about the award-winning program and also got to pick vegetables to take home or eat right off the vine. The cherry tomatoes were delicious!
Flex Day is not only a chance for professional development but also a celebration of the collaborative spirit that drives the Peralta Community College District. District Flex Day at Merritt College was an inspiring day as we move forward with passion, purpose, and possibilities.
Check out more photos from Flex Day on Peralta's SmugMug account here: https://peraltacolleges.smugmug.com/District/Events-/2025-Events/Fall-2025-Flex-Day