Merritt Announces New Director of Hispanic Serving Institutions Program

Mr. Jorge Murillo has been appointed as Merritt College’s new Director of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program. Working alongside faculty, classified professional staff members, and administrators, Mr. Murillo will take the lead on building and implementing the College’s Aspira Project, which will be funded by a five-year, $2.9M grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Title V Program.

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 Safety Day

On Thursday, September 7 Merritt held its inaugural Safety Day. The event provided faculty, classified staff members, and administrators with the opportunity to share their concerns and suggestions related to public safety.

Fall is Free in 2023 and the semester kicked off on August 21, 2023. Welcome Week at the Peralta Colleges marks the beginning of a fresh adventure for both new and returning students.  Each College was bustling with events tailored to welcome incoming students into our tight-knit community. From Ice Cream Socials at Merritt to Pancakes with the President at COA, and from the Campus Resource Fair at BCC to a Block Party at Laney,  it is safe to say that Welcome Week was a great success!

Dear Peralta Community,

Parking Permit Process for Fall Semester

For the fall semester, we are reinstating parking permits at College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College. We will be using a temporary system as we look to implement a new district parking enforcement program for spring. During the fall semester, there is no fee for parking, and we will not be ticketing.

At Berkeley City College, there is not a PCCD-owned lot available. Employees should check with the BCC business office for parking information.

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!

Merritt and OUSD Celebrate Anniversary of Pre-Collegiate Academy

More than three decades ago, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and Merritt College began a collaboration that resulted in the creation of the Pre-Collegiate Academy (PCA), a program specifically designed for students in Oakland middle and secondary schools.

Students who enrolled in Merritt College’s African American Studies 27 course (Afro-Caribbean History, Politics, and Culture) recently returned from their study abroad trip to Jamaica. This was a tremendous opportunity for them to learn first-hand about the historical, economic, and cultural development of the Caribbean and the effects of colonization on the region.

Lisa Cook Appointed Acting VP of Instruction at Merritt

Merritt College officially welcomes Lisa Cook as Acting Vice President of Instruction. Lisa comes to Merritt from Berkeley City College, where she has served as the Dean of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences since 2016. Her time in the Peralta District as an experienced leader and educator, however, spans more than 25 years.