PRESIDENT'S PEN

I want to take this opportunity to personally welcome everyone back to Cañada for the fall semester. There have certainly been changes over the summer - including Rosa 's hiring as Chancellor at the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District and my arrival as Interim President. The groundbreaking for the new Library and Student Resource Center , Building 9, is underway, offices in Buildings 13 and 3 have been upgraded, and Building 8 has undergone a major renovation. The new artificial turf has been installed on the soccer pitch and the baseball diamond is being renovated and will soon feature artificial turf.

I've spent the past two weeks meeting as many of you as possible and learning about the college and I can honestly say I'm truly amazed at the quality of programs and the genuine care shown for the students. As an outsider, the momentum at Cañada can be seen in the various construction projects but underneath the surface I've found a community that is passionate about providing access to a quality education for anyone in the local community who wants it. That's an invaluable resource for Redwood City , Woodside, San Carlos , East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and other local cities.

During the six months or so I will serve as Interim President my goals are simple. First, and most importantly, I want to provide each of you with the resources necessary to continue the good work you are doing and to sustain the excellent programs already in place. Please take time to talk to me about ideas you have that can help you do your job or improve the college. My second goal is to build on the existing outreach efforts into the local high schools and even the middle schools. This college has one of the highest transfer rates in the state, an average class size of 20, and has faculty with the highest levels of expertise and scholarship teaching core courses in English, math, science, and social sciences. Amazingly, students get all of this for $26 a credit. The best way to get the word out is the old fashioned way - meet teachers, counselors, parents, and students face-to-face. I have spent more than 40 years as a high school educator in San Mateo County and I know that students, especially sophomores and juniors, learn more about college from influential teachers than anyone else.

My final goal is to build a plan for the future of the college that can be implemented by the new president. To be successful, will require input from all corners of campus and college community. This campus is a splendid success. There is no need for wholesale change but there is a need for a planning that will continue the momentum.

I hope everyone will attend the all-college meeting on Friday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. in Building 3, Room 142. Chancellor Ron Galatolo will solicit input from you regarding qualities you would like to see in a permanent president and he will outline the upcoming selection process. Phyllis Lucas-Woods, our newly appointed Vice President for Student Services, will present the second annual Lucas/Berry Exemplary Faculty and Classified Awards, and I will share a few words. I look forward to seeing you at the all-college meeting and welcome back.

Tom Mohr

 

CAMPUS NEWS

Thomas C. Mohr Appointed Interim President

Mohr to Lead College During National Search for Permanent President

Thomas C. Mohr, the former superintendent of the San Mateo Union High School District , was appointed interim president at Cañada College July 27 by the San Mateo County Community College Board of Trustees.

Mohr will guide the college while the district embarks on a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for Rosa Perez, who was recently named chancellor of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District. Perez served as president of Cañada College since July 1, 1999. The search for her replacement is expected to take approximately six months.

"I am confident that Tom's exceptional leadership and extensive experience in public education will be a tremendous asset to Cañada College and our district as a whole," said Ron Galatolo, chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District.

Mohr said his first order of business is meeting with members of the campus community and learning more about programs at the college. He said he is particularly interested in strengthening partnerships with area high schools and helping to build on existing outreach programs.

"The staff and faculty at this college have done a remarkable job of reaching out to a wide range of people in the community," he said. "They've made college accessible to people who might not otherwise attend college. I want to continue the good work they've started and build on it where possible."

Mohr was superintendent of SMUHSD from 1996 through 2004 and was assistant superintendent of instruction at the district from 1986 through 1996. He was also a principal of three high schools in the Jefferson Union High School District . During his tenure as superintendent the SMUHSD built strong community relationships across the six cities of the district which were an important factor in the district fulfilling significant goals which raised standards and enriched academic opportunity for all students and provided for the district's future.

Mohr has been a Bay Area resident for 42 years and resides in San Mateo with his wife, Sandy.

Chancellor to Discuss Presidential Search Aug. 19

The discussion will be part of the first all-college meeting of the year

Chancellor Ron Galatolo will ask the campus community what qualities and characteristics they would like to see in a new president as part of the first all-college meeting of the new academic year.

The meeting will be held Friday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. in Building 3, Room 142.

"With the start of a new academic year and the appointment of Tom Mohr as Interim President, it is now time to turn our thoughts to selecting a permanent president for Cañada College ," Galatolo wrote in an e-mail distributed to the campus community. "As promised, it is my intent to complete the selection procedure with your active participation."

In addition to hearing from the Cañada community, Galatolo will discuss the process and timeline for filling the position. "As you know, our Board is committed to an open, inclusive process and will seek candidates that reflect the core values of the college and the overall needs of the community," Galatolo said.

Interim President Tom Mohr will offer an introduction at the meeting and Vice President for Student Services, Phyllis Lucas-Woods, will present the second annual Lucas/Berry Exemplary Faculty and Classified Awards.

Groundbreaking Set for New Library

Library and Student Resource Center will be 71,000-Square-Feet

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 15 for the largest construction project on the campus since its opening in 1968.

The Cañada College Library and Student Resource Center will be 71,000-square-feet and will house a state-of-the-art library that will be open to the public, student learning center, admissions and records, financial aid, and counseling center. The building will cost approximately $30 million and is expected to be completed in late 2006. The new building is primarily funded from state capital outlay dollars in addition to $6.4 million in general obligation bonds approved by San Mateo County voters.

"This building will be a tremendous asset for our students," said Tom Mohr, Cañada College interim president. "It will physically be located in the center of campus and will provide a one-stop center for all student services."

The building will be located between the Academic & Technical Building and the upper parking area. It will create a new campus entrance that will link other buildings and provide access between the upper parking area and the campus quad, three stories below.

The current, out-dated library is located on the outer edge of campus. Because of its location, it is difficult to access, and invisible to the campus community. There are a number of accessibility issues on the exterior of the library as well as in the interior.

"We are excited to have the library located at the center of campus and have it in the same building as other student services," said Dave Patterson, the college reference librarian.

The short groundbreaking ceremony will feature comments from community, business, and education leaders. It will be followed by refreshments in the Main Theater Lobby.

Phyllis Lucas-Woods Named VP of Student Services

Phyllis Lucas-Woods, an administrator and professor in the San Mateo County Community College District for more than 30 years, has been named the vice president of student services.

Lucas-Woods served as interim vice president of student services this past academic year and has been integral in planning for the construction of the college's new Student Resource Center . Ground-breaking on the new building is scheduled for August.

"In addition to all of her classroom and leadership experience, Phyllis has proven her commitment to the diverse student body and communities our college embraces," said Rosa Perez, the college's former president. "She values integrated partnerships with schools, our work with immigrant families, and will bring valued wisdom and experience to our administrative team. As an African-American, who herself was the first one in her family to go to college, she has a very personal connection to many of the students who attend our college today."

Lucas-Woods graduated from Skyline College 's first graduating class in 1971. She later earned a BA in English and an MA in English Literature from San Francisco State University . In 1975, she returned to Skyline College to work as an English instructional aide in the Media Center and later joined the faculty, teaching English for several years before becoming director of the Learning Resources Center . In 1992, Lucas-Woods became the dean of language arts and learning resources at Skyline.

Lucas-Woods joined Cañada College in 2000 as dean of the University Center and academic support services. She developed programs for the University Center , which was the first institution of its kind in California to offer bachelor's degrees from a number of universities on a community college campus. The Cañada College University Center recently added a bachelor's degree in nursing in partnership with San Francisco State University and funded by the Sequoia HealthCare District.

"I take great pride in being a product of the San Mateo County Community College District because it is here that I've grown from a first-generation college student to an English professor to a dean and now to a vice president in its administration," she said. "I am particularly proud to be selected to this prestigious position at Canada College , an institution that has shown such courageous, innovative leadership in serving its students."

Paul Roscelli Appointed to PTK Honors Committee

Paul Roscelli, associate professor at Cañada College , has been appointed to Phi Theta Kappa's Honors Committee as one of two honors study topic experts. Professor Roscelli will serve a two-year term on the Honors Committee, effective July 2005.

Expertise in the upcoming honors study topic was considered in the selection of the committee appointments. The 2006-08 honors study topic, Gold, God and Glory: The Global Struggle for Power, will explore the human drive for power and the multiple dimensions of power.

"We are privileged to have Professor Roscelli as a member of our Honors Committee," said Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Rod A. Risley. "His experience in teaching economics, accounting and law will be invaluable to the committee. We welcome his expertise as a dedicated Phi Theta Kappa advisor and a highly respected member of the Cañada College faculty."

Professor Roscelli has served as a seminar leader for the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Institute and as a presenter for the Nevada/California Regional Honors Institute. He is also a member of the Cato Institute, non-profit public policy research foundation, and serves as Secretary of Cañada College's Academic Senate and on several college committees.

He received a B.S. degree in Accounting from San Francisco State University , a J.D. degree from the University of Santa Clara School of Law and an A.B. degree in Political Economics from University of California , Berkeley .

The Phi Theta Kappa Honors Committee, composed of Phi Theta Kappa regional coordinators, faculty advisors, consultants and headquarters staff members, biennially selects the society's honors study topic, an interdisciplinary study used by chapters and colleges as the basis for honors study in colloquies, courses, seminars and the Honors Satellite Seminar Series.

The Honors Committee publishes the Honors Study Topic Guide, a resource for exploring the honors study topic, and assists in planning the society's Faculty Scholar Conference and Honors Institute, a weeklong summer conference focusing on the honors study topic.

Phi Theta Kappa, the largest honor society for higher education, has more than 1.5 million members at 1,200 community colleges in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada and Germany .

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FACES OF CAÑADA

Victoria O'Donnell Named Dean of Science & Technology

Victoria O'Donnell, director of the psychiatric technician training program at Napa State Hospital , has been named the new dean of science and technology. O'Donnell began at Cañada Aug. 1.

O'Donnell is a former community college student, earning her associate's degree from Santa Monica Community College before going on to obtain a master's degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix.

O'Donnell established two allied health programs working with Napa Valley College and would like to bring more allied health programs to Cañada.

"We need to continue to look for partnerships with the health care industry to grow these programs," she said. "Jobs are available for graduates. The college has the potential to develop vocational level programs and to support baccalaureate programs in the allied health field."

O'Donnell currently lives in Napa but has an apartment in Redwood City where she lives during the week. She said she is planning to eventually move closer to the college.

Music Hits a High Note with David Meckler

After several years of teaching music as an adjunct professor, David Meckler now becomes full-time and he has big plans for the Music Department.

He has added a class in world music and another on art, music and ideas that focuses on the history of European art and music. In the future, he would like to add a class on Latin American music.

"As a full-time instructor I'll be able to provide students more consistent offerings," he said.

Based on student interest, Meckler said he would like to be able to incorporate some performance opportunities into the curriculum. "We have a great Drama Department and there might be opportunities for us to work together."

Meckler is a music composer who has written an opera based on the Apollo space program. He has also written chamber and choral music. He lives in Redwood City .

Carol Rhodes: No Longer a Road Warrior

For the past couple of years Carol Rhodes has kept her auto mechanic happy as she's taught biology as an adjunct faculty member at the College of San Mateo , Foothill College and Cañada College . Carol's mechanic will see a lot less of her now that the San Carlos resident has been hired to teach biology full-time at Cañada.

Rhodes will teach two general biology classes and human biology. Because many of her students are non-science majors, she approaches her classes with the goal of teaching them the basics.

"Everyone needs to understand there is valid and invalid science," she said. "I like to incorporate current issues into my science classes to help students understand that science is important for everyone. How many people voted for or against stem cell research last year without knowing anything about the issue?"

Students in Rhodes ' classes are asked to prepare a report on a current scientific issue such as low-carbohydrate diets, genetically modified plants and animals, or stem cell research. The students must deliver a poster and oral presentation on the issue that includes both sides of the debate.

"I still teach the basics of biology but I want students to get the bigger picture of why the basics are important in today's world," she said.

Rhodes earned her bachelor's degree at UC-Davis and her PhD in plant genetics at the University of Minnesota . She was born in San Francisco and raised in San Jose . Prior to teaching she worked in private industry as a genetic engineer.

Editor's Note: If you have ideas for the Faces of Cañada section of the online newsletter, please contact Robert Hood at ext. 3340 or by e-mail at hoodr@smccd.edu.

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SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Awards Cañada College Students $1,000 Scholarships

Cañada College students Lindsay Moore and Noel Chavez have each been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

Through the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the foundation awards a total of 400 scholarships annually to students attending higher-education institutions granting two-year degrees. In April, one scholar from each state received a $2,000 scholarship from Coca-Cola through the New Century Scholar Program of the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college scholastic honorary organization. On June 21, an additional 350 students were awarded a $1,000 scholarship. All recipients have demonstrated academic success and participated in community service within the past 12 months.

"The Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program gives support and encouragement to an under-served population of college students," said J. Mark Davis, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. "This program is an extension of our long-standing commitment to college education throughout the United States . These fine students, who often juggle school, work and family, continue to give back to their communities through volunteer service."

The Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program is made possible with funding from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. The Whitehead Foundation provides grants in support of human services initiatives. The late Joseph B. Whitehead was one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola.

The Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program complements the foundation's Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which awards more than $1.8 million annually in college scholarships to 250 outstanding high school seniors. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one of the most recognized and respected corporate-sponsored scholarships in America.

The foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish a legacy for the education of tomorrow's leaders. Now in its sixth year of funding the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the foundation has provided nearly $2.5 million in scholarship awards to students attending two-year degree granting institutions and more than $26.8 million towards the Coca-Cola Scholars Program during the past 17 years.

Editor's Note: If you have an idea for a student feature, contact Robert Hood at ext. 3340.

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Aug 15 - Library & Student Resource Center Groundbreaking Ceremony, 2:00 pm, between Parking Lot 1 & bldg. 13
Aug 18 - College Council, 1:30 pm, Room TBA
Aug 19 - All-College meeting, 1:00 pm, 3-142
Aug 23 - Curriculum Committee, 2:00 pm, Room TBA
Aug 31 - The Ultimate Road Trip: Campus2Career 10:10-11:00 am, Main Theater. Contact Kathy Sammut at ext 3447.

For more events information, see the Events Calendar on inside Cañada.

Editor's Note: If you would like to submit an event to the Cañada Calendar of Events please contact Debbie Joy at ext. 3318, or use the link at the bottom of the Calendar.

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