Former Merritt College President Dr. Robert "Bobby" Adams has passed away

Current Merritt College President Dr. David M. Johnson shared this message with the Merritt Community:

It is with a heavy heart that I share some very sad news. Our former Merritt College President Dr. Bobby Adams passed away this weekend. Dr. Adams served this college faithfully from 2007 until his retirement in 2012. I do not have any additional details at this time but will share them as more information is made available.

Good morning, Merritt Community.

I am writing with great news to share! I am pleased to announce that Mr. Jorge Murillo is our new Director of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program (HSI Director). Now that he has had a few days to settle in, I encourage you to reach out and/or stop by his office to give him a warm Merritt College welcome! We are working with the District to create his email address, but in the meantime, he can be reached at aspira.merritt@peralta.edu. His office is R-113G.

Merritt College would like to congratulate Mr. Damon Covington, who works as a faculty member in Merritt College’s Fire Sciences and Emergency Medical Technician department. Merritt is proud to share that last month he was appointed as Oakland’s new Interim Fire Chief!

KTVU - Oakland Has New Interim Fire Chief

Merritt College is very proud to share another success story from the ranks of our classified professional staff. Ms. Maria Valencia currently works in the Office of Instruction as the assistant to the VPI. She describes herself as a first-generation student from a very impoverished background, but also as someone who always had a strong desire to earn a college degree.

Professor Mark Rauzon will be the seabird observer on a research expedition to the Bering Sea and beyond on a Canadian Ice Breaker. Leaving Victoria BC on July 5th, Prof. Rauzon will be collecting seabird distribution data when the ship is underway and when the ship is on station.

The Peralta Community College District is proud to celebrate the granting of tenure to seven members of our faculty by the Board of Trustees in March, with tenure taking effect with the 2023-24 academic year. These seven join the ranks of tenured faculty at our four colleges, adding ever more experience and talent to the core of our distinguished faculty, the foundation of our ability to help our students reach their educational goals. Congratulations to all for earning this distinction and for your dedication to our students.

To view all the photos taken during the event, click here.

Faculty members representing all four of the Peralta Colleges participated in the Academic Senate of California Community Colleges (ASCCC) Spring Plenary in Anaheim April 20-22, 2023. The theme for the conference was “Making Space for Connection and Belonging as We Center Authentic Voices and Lived Experiences in the 10+1”. 

Berkeley City College is thrilled to have a new Assistant Chief of Engineering at BCC, Mr. Felix Smith, who has been with the Peralta Community College District (“PCCD”) since 2008 and at BCC since February 2023. Mr. Smith has a storied and progressive background beginning his PCCD career as an hourly custodian, progressed to Permanent Custodian, then Senior Store Keeper, and then placement as Head Custodian.