Honoring Our Newly-Tenured Faculty Colleagues

This semester we have two individuals who have attained a significant milestone—achieving tenure as a Merritt College faculty member!!! Lissette Dominguez and Taslima Rehman (along with eleven of their colleagues across Peralta) were honored at the District Reception, in an event that represents a high mark in their professional journey. Please allow me to share a bit about each of them.

Taslima Rehman began her journey at Merritt College in Fall 2021 as a Mathematics Instructor, bringing with her wealth of knowledge and passion for teaching. In Fall 2023, Taslima was honored to take the role of Department Co-Chair, where she has contributed to the growth and development of the department. A member of SLOAC since Fall 2022, she transitioned to the role of SLOAC Coordinator for Division II in Fall 2024. In these capacities, Taslima has played an integral role in assessing and enhancing student learning outcomes, demonstrating her commitment to both academic excellence and the success of college students.

Born and raised in Southern California to two hardworking immigrant parents, Lissette’s educational journey began at Ventura College before transferring to San Francisco State University, where she earned her bachelor's in child and Adolescent Development and a Masters in Elementary Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education. As a teaching assistant at SFSU, she found her voice in higher education, and in 2018, she taught her first solo course at Merritt College. She earned her full-time faculty position in 2022. In her time here, Lissette has dedicated herself to developing courses that are equitable, inclusive, and adaptable to diverse learning needs. To achieve this, she has pursued professional learning in Online Teaching and Design, ZTC Pathway Programs, and Equitable Grading. Passionate about curriculum development, she actively shares resources and strategies with her colleagues to enhance teaching and learning experiences.

Join me in congratulating and celebrating Lissette and Taslima!!

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries Leads Powerful Discussion on Civic Engagement at MLK Freedom Center Event

On February 25, the Martin Luther King Freedom Center (housed here at Merritt College) hosted the Honorable Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, as part of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series. The event was held at the Henry J. Kaiser Center and was well-attended. Former mayor Elihu Harris, Mayor Kevin Jenkins (our former Peralta Trustee), Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (who represents CA District 12, which includes Oakland and the Peralta service area), and MLK Freedom Center Executive Director Dr. Roy Wilson gave inspiring and heartfelt remarks, exhorting the audience to engage the political process and remain hopeful (I shared some things as well).

Former Congresswoman and current mayoral candidate Barbara Lee led a Q&A with Representative Jeffries, where he delineated his vision as a leader of the Democratic Party. This successful event underscores the role that Peralta Colleges continue to play in promoting civic engagement.

PTK Chapter Earns REACH Status; Student Kristy O’Brien Named 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar

PTK Chapter continues to make news and rack up the accolades. Last month I shared that Beta Theta Lambda has been officially named as a REACH Chapter, a designation that honors our achievements in the area of membership development. This month I am pleased to announce that Kristy O’Brien, one of our PTK students, has just been selected as the 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar! Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service, and the recognition also carries a $1250 Scholarship Award! All student recipients will be recognized during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, which will be held in Kansas City, Missouri from April 3-5. Congratulations Kristy!!