You Are Here:

Week of December 5, 2022 Update

Posted on by Star Rivera-Lacey

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community Engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement

  • Attended Trustee Mark Evilsizer’s recognition event where we celebrated his 20 years of service on the Palomar College Governing Board. We were honored to be joined by former Palomar College President Bob Deegan and many other special guests who attended the event to thank Trustee Evilsizer and wish him the best in retirement. We also recognized Trustee Kartik Raju, and Trustee Norma Miyamoto during the regular governing board meeting for their dedicated service. These 3 amazing individuals were instrumental in propelling our District forward and positioning us well for the future! We wish them all the very best. They will be missed!
  • Attended the Regular December Governing Board Meeting.
  • Attended the Educational & Facilities Vision Plan Coordinators Meeting.
  • Facilitated monthly CCE Leadership Meeting.
  • Facilitated monthly PFF Leadership Meeting.
  • Facilitated an extended College Council Meeting where one of the items discussed was the District’s new Student Equity and Achievement (SEA) plan.
  • Attended the last Orientation and New Faculty Workshop of the semester. A special thank you to Professor Luis Guerrero and Matt Grills for their leadership in helping to onboard our new faculty in this year-long program.
  • Attended the Research Methods Poster Fair. I was extremely impressed by the level of research our students are conducting. A special note of gratitude to faculty members Betsi Little, Kristin Peviani, and Netta Schroer for leading this incredible work!
  • Attended the closing reception of the faculty art and photography exhibition “RIPE” at the Boehm Gallery. As always, I was very impressed by the creativity and innovation of our faculty.
  • Attended a fashion show in the Library/Learning Resource Center. Thank you, Professor Rita Campo Griggs, for the invitation. I enjoyed meeting many of the students in the program and the amazing faculty who teach them. Our students are fortunate to benefit from such industry talent!

Community Engagement

  • Attended the monthly San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association (SDICCCA) Meeting. At these meetings, current issues facing the local community colleges in the region are discussed. This month’s meeting focused on Strong Workforce Initiatives.
  • Attended A Step Beyond’s student ballet performance of El Alebrije. Over 150 local students performed a reimagined version of the classic Nutcracker ballet influenced by Mexican culture. I am proud to serve on the Board of Directors as a representative of Palomar College, and I am excited to support future local Palomar College students.
  • Participated in an interview with the California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) Alumni magazine. It was great to reminisce about my positive educational experience at CSUSM and to discuss the importance the community college system played in my own educational journey. The article is set to be published next March.
  • Highlighted in the San Diego Business Journal’s annual San Diego’s Most Influential People in San Diego 2022. I am honored to be included in the education section, along with several other College Presidents in the region. The work we do here at Palomar College is a collaborative effort, so this acknowledgement is all ours. I feel fortunate to work with so many dedicated colleagues that continue to guide our students on their path to success.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News

  • On Friday, December 9, the College Council approved the revisions to the AP7120 Recruitment and Hiring document. Some of these revisions demonstrate our ongoing, action-oriented commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, and Accessibility.
  • Noche de Cultura is happening on Thursday, December 15 at the Student Union! Noche de Cultura is a night to share your culture through artistic expression: song, dance, poetry, theatre, comedy, music, and much more. Refreshments will start at 5:00 p.m. and performances at 6:00 p.m. It is not too late to sign up! Click here to sign up to perform. Here is a link to the flyer for the event.
  • The Palomar Black Faculty and Staff Association (PBFSA) is currently planning its third annual Black History Month Celebration. PBFSA is adopting the ASALH theme – Black Resistance: Celebrating Our Triumphs, Successes, and Progress. This is a call to everyone, inside and outside the academy, to study the history of Black Americans’ responses to establish safe spaces, where Black life can be sustained, fortified, and respected. Please note, there are several ways to partner with PBFSA next year. First, is the Black History Month Fair on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our Palomar College community and share about your organization, department, or club. To reserve a booth, please fill out the BHM Fair Sign-Up by Monday, January 9, 2023. Secondly, PBFSA is hosting its third annual Black History Month Workshop Series for the entire month of February 2023. If you have an area of research, professional development, or general topic of interest that you would be willing to present on, or if you know of any community members who would be interested in presenting, please fill out this form.

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035 Update

The Educational and Facilities Vision Task Force will meet next week to discuss the results of the vision/listening sessions and the campuswide survey. In January, the Task Force will come together over two days to engage in workshops where we consider the goals for the educational long-range plan. As the Task Force continues its work into the Spring, we are currently setting up a time for members to visit the centers. Please note, all agendas and presentations to date made during the Task Force meetings are posted on the Vision Plan website which can be accessed here.

Comet of the Week

The Comet of the Week is Ryan Bulis, Director of the Boehm Gallery. Ryan’s work this year with the Faculty Art Exhibition was exceptional, and I appreciate the time he took to show me other pieces that are unique to Palomar College’s collection. I can’t wait to see what the Boehm Gallery has in store for us in the coming year!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar