Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson shared an uplifting report with the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees on March 11th, detailing her experience at the 49th Annual Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) Conference in Monterey. As the current ACCCA President, Dr. Gilkerson found the gathering to be a powerful experience of learning, growth, and celebration in service to student success and institutional strength.
"To say my heart is full is an understatement! What a fantastic 49th Annual Association of California Community College Administrators Conference held in Monterey last month," Dr. Gilkerson expressed. "It was a privilege to be in a community with the system's administrators learning, growing, and celebrating in service to our mission...student success and strengthening our institutions. It was nice to be in community with several people from the Peralta Colleges too, including Natalie Rodriguez from COA who completed the Great Deans training program."
Addressing the challenges faced by community colleges, Dr. Gilkerson delivered a message of hope and action in her opening remarks:
"As I said in my opening remarks, 'these are turbulent times, and I know many of you are feeling the weight of current events, particularly the political climate surrounding the assault on undocumented communities, immigrant rights, trans justice, reproductive freedom, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, public service, and higher education. However, I am reminded of a powerful quote from Let This Radicalize You: “Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. Hope is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency.”
We are in an emergency, but we are not powerless. Hope is our tool, our strategy, and our resolve. We must use it to break down barriers and build bridges for our students, no matter the opposition we face.'"
Dr. Gilkerson concluded with a resounding declaration: "I AM FILLED WITH HOPE." Her message resonated deeply, reinforcing the Peralta Community College District's commitment to equity, access, and student empowerment in the face of adversity.
