At the June 9 meeting, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees recognized outgoing Student Trustees Léo Migliaccio and Ahyan Malik for their commitment to representing students during the past academic year. During the meeting, Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson praised both students for strengthening student participation in shared governance while serving as leaders at Berkeley City College and across the District. She said the pair organized student leadership events, encouraged collaboration among student governments, and worked to improve communication between students and District leadership.
Chancellor Gilkerson highlighted recommendations Migliaccio and Malik presented to the District's Unification Taskforce, including proposals to improve collaboration among student governments, clarify governance guidelines, and develop better communication and orientation resources for students. “They have lived out their leadership in real ways while going to school, and I want to congratulate you both again on your graduation this last May, and appreciate your support.”
She presented them with awards recognizing their outstanding leadership and dedication to representing student voices.
Later in the meeting, Trustee Migliaccio reflected on his final Board meeting, thanking his fellow trustees, college presidents, and Board members for their guidance. He offered special appreciation to Student Trustee Malik for helping him navigate the responsibilities of the Student Trustee role, and credited Chancellor Gilkerson's mentorship for encouraging him to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. “You've been extremely patient with me through all my mishaps and through all the mistakes that I've made. So, thank you so much. It's an honor to be mentored by someone like you.”
At the Board's June 23 meeting, Student Trustee Malik reflected on his journey from a quiet new student at Berkeley City College to a confident campus leader. “When I first started here, I started working in the Career & Transfer Center at Berkeley City College, where I met [Career & Transfer Center Coordinator] Andrea Williams. When she first met me, she met a quiet kid who wanted to get out of here as fast as possible, because I saw all my friends at universities, and I was like, ‘Why am I left behind?’ And within the first two months, I said, ‘I don't want to leave as fast as possible. I want to stay as long as I can.’” Working in the Career & Transfer Center and serving as Student Trustee taught him the importance of using his voice, inviting others into leadership, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than setbacks.
Malik thanked District staff members Sasha Amiri and Tachetta Henry, his fellow trustees, and Chancellor Gilkerson for their mentorship. He also announced his acceptance to several prestigious universities, including MIT, Yale, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Stanford, and said he plans to remain connected to the Peralta community regardless of where he continues his education.
Congratulations to Student Trustees Migliaccio and Malik. Thank you for the work you've done in representing your fellow students, and best of luck in your future academic endeavors!