On Thursday, May 1, 2025, on a glorious spring day in Oakland, we kicked off “Smile Season” and the month-long celebration of student successes throughout the district. Following the tradition of Libations by Kimm Blackwell, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson warmly welcomed attendees to the Peralta Association of African American Affairs (PAAAA) Scholarship Awardee Reception, expressing her joy in celebrating the extraordinary student scholars. She began by acknowledging and thanking the PAAAA Scholarship Committee for their dedication in making the event possible.
A dedicated group of faculty representatives from the Peralta Community College District recently joined colleagues from across the state at the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) 2025 Spring Plenary Session.
Pauel Kniha shares his experience with the Construction Management Program at Laney College. He emphasizes that Laney is a unique college that offers classes specifically for construction management. He states that there are outstanding professors who are professionals in their fields, and great staff assistants who help students. He is glad to be at Laney, and encourages everybody who is considering coming to Laney for their education to do so.
At the April 8th Board of Trustees meeting, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson proudly recognized five exceptional classified professionals as the 2025 Classified Employees of the Year. These individuals, representing Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, and the District Service Center, were celebrated for their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and profound impact on our district and the wider community.
The Peralta Community College District made a significant splash at the recent Community College Public Relations Organization (CCPRO) 2025 conference held on beautiful Shelter Island in San Diego!
The Peralta Community College District recently celebrated its third Classified Professional Symposium of the school year, themed “Rethinking Our Possibilities.” The event benefited from beautiful weather, both within the welcoming Laney Student Center and in the surrounding outdoor spaces.
Recently, both the Laney College and Merritt College Child Care Centers were reviewed by the Oakland Head Start Program. Both centers exceeded expectations and received glowing reviews! The reviewer even commented, “A few families did not know why I was there but made a point to let me know their child loves their teachers and I was lucky to be observing the best classroom at the school."
Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, highlighted the celebration of Women's History Month across the district's colleges in her report to the Board of Trustees on April 8th. Following her March 8th report, which concluded with a video celebrating the women leading the Milvia Street construction project at Berkeley City College, the Chancellor noted that the recognition of women's contributions continued throughout March with various events.
Laney College Hosts Successful Community Job Hiring Event
On March 20, 2025, Laney College hosted a Community Job Hiring Event, providing students, alumni, and community members with information about employment opportunities. Attendees connected with employers from organizations such as the Oakland Zoo, ChildCare Careers, Oakland Marriott City Center, CareBuilders at Home East Bay, Allied Universal Event Services, The Plus Group, and Youth Together.
OAKLAND, Calif., April 7, 2025 – The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) announced the successful sale of $362.7 million in bonds on March 26, 2025, marking a significant financial milestone for the District.
