Transfer Day 2025
Laney College hosted Transfer Day on Monday, October 6, bringing college and university representatives to campus to meet directly with students. The event, held in the Laney Quad, provided students the opportunity to explore programs and majors, ask questions about admissions, and gather important information on transfer requirements and deadlines.
Transfer Day connected students with resources to support their transfer journey and helped them begin building relationships with four-year institutions. Events like these demonstrate Laney’s commitment to preparing students for academic success beyond community college and supporting a clear pathway to degree completion.
Laney Faculty Member Honored with National Adviser Award
Congratulations to Journalism Department Chair Eleni Gastis, who has been named a 2025 Emerging Adviser Award recipient by the College Media Association (CMA). She is one of only three advisers nationwide to receive this honor, which recognizes outstanding leadership and dedication among advisers in the early stages of their careers. Emerging Adviser Award recipients are recognized for their ability to inspire student journalists, demonstrate strong leadership, and uphold the values of collegiate media.
Professor Gastis will be formally honored at MediaFest25 next month in Washington, D.C., alongside 14 other advisers from institutions across the country. Her recognition underscores Laney College’s commitment to empowering student voices and supporting the next generation of journalists.
New Directional & Student Services Signage Installed Across Campus
Laney College has introduced new directional and student services signage throughout the campus to make it easier for students to find their classes and access key support resources.
The project was a collaboration between Katrina Santos, Basic Needs Coordinator, and Chanda Brewer, Web Content Developer and Marketer for the college. Together, they designed, ordered, and distributed signage across high-traffic areas, ensuring students can quickly locate essential services such as Admissions and Records, Counseling, Financial Aid, Basic Needs, Tutoring, and more.
Each sign also features QR codes—some linking to walking directions across campus, and others directing students to webpages with additional information about available services. This effort reflects Laney’s commitment to improving the student experience by reducing barriers to navigation and increasing awareness of support resources.
Laney College Hosts Moon Festival Celebration
Laney College celebrated the 2025 Moon Festival with food, games, and community activities in the Laney Quad on Tuesday, September 30. Sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Student Success (APASS) program, the event brought together students, faculty, and classified professionals to enjoy the spirit of the season while building connections and cultural appreciation on campus.
Laney College Engages Community at Little Saigon Vietnamese Moon Festival
Laney College participated in the Little Saigon Moon Festival on Sunday, September 28, building connections with local families and sharing information about college opportunities.
President Rebecca Opsata joined representatives from the I Can Go to College campaign of the California Community Colleges, highlighting pathways to higher education and celebrating cultural traditions with the community.
This outreach effort reflects Laney’s ongoing commitment to supporting access, equity, and educational opportunity for all communities in Oakland.
Athletics Focus Groups
Laney College hosted two focus groups on Monday, September 22, to hear directly from students and employees about the future of the college’s athletics and physical education programs.
The sessions provided an opportunity for participants to examine data about athletics across the district and then share their perspectives to help shape the direction of Peralta athletics.
The focus groups were part of the larger district-wide Transformation Project, and the information shared by students will be taken to the Student Success and Enrollment Management Committee. Similar focus groups will be held at all district colleges.
Laney College Ceramics Builds New Wood-Fired Kiln
Laney College’s Art Department, led by Chair MC Bassett, has completed a new American-style wood-fired train kiln, first fired this September. Built during a week-long workshop led by artist Mike Tavares, the kiln offers students and community members hands-on experience in kiln construction, glazing, and firing techniques.
The project expands Laney’s ceramics program through new fee-based workshops and coincides with STOKED, a national juried exhibition of wood-fired ceramics at the June Steingart Gallery. Together, these efforts position Laney as a growing hub for wood-fired ceramics in the East Bay.
Laney Hosts Free Internet Event, Connecting Over 120 Community Members
The Computer Information Systems Department, in partnership with Tech Exchange, hosted a free event on September 17 that connected more than 120 community members with six months of free T-Mobile internet service. Demand was so strong that all available hardware was distributed, underscoring the critical need for expanded digital access in Oakland.
The event highlighted the lasting impact of a Laney education as alumni Chun Yin Lee and Maybellyne Alferez, now with Tech Exchange, returned to campus to assist participants. Plans are underway for another event to meet continued demand.
Kids Get Building Blocks to a STEM Career at Math Festival
Laney College hosted the Julia Robinson Math Festival on September 25 in the Student Center, drawing more than 120 participants from across the Bay Area. Families, students, and educators engaged with puzzles, games, and building activities designed to spark curiosity and make math approachable and fun.
The event was a partnership between the Julia Robinson Math Festival and Laney’s Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) Program, which provides tutoring, workshops, and support for underserved students in STEM. Children and families discovered math as creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration—building both skills and confidence.
Laney MESA Builds Community & Career Pathways
The Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement Program (MESA) has dramatically increased its student enrollment in its second year of existence. Fall recruitment efforts brought in 110 applications in just 31 days, resulting in 79 MESA scholars, 6 ASEM students, and 32 Emerging MESA scholars supported through MESA and Children Now grants.
This fall, the program added a Calculus 1 Academic Excellence Workshop led by Laney’s newest Physics instructor to further strengthen student success. In addition, MESA has expanded student leadership opportunities by supporting the launch of two new student-led clubs: the Women in STEM Club and the Pre-Med/Future Physicians’ Club. These initiatives build on MESA’s mission to empower underrepresented students in STEM with academic tools, resources, and mentorship while fostering community and preparing students for transfer and STEM careers.
Over the summer, in partnership with the STEM Core Program, the MESA Summer Bridge Program prepared 14 engineering-interested students before the fall semester. MESA also hosted its semesterly three-day Prep Academy, supporting all new recruits as they begin their academic journey.
This article is taken from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Becky Opsata, Laney College President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. To view it as a PDF, click here.