San Diego Community College District

The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) and its four colleges played a starring role during the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress, which was held in San Diego Oct. 13-15 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt downtown.

In addition to its trustees, the district’s students, faculty, alumni, classified professionals, and administrators were showcased during the conference, which featured a timely focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. 

For many participants, it was their first in-person conference, which attracted more than 1,000 attendees from across the country, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the health and safety of all those involved, attendees were required to submit proof of vaccination or a negative test to the ACCT. 

See more photos from the 
ACCT Leadership Congress

Even before the conference began, City and Mesa colleges were highlighted. City College hosted the ACCT Board Dinner on Tuesday, October 12 at its “A” Building Rooftop Terrace with the downtown skyline as a backdrop. The dinner was catered by ¡SALUD!, an award-winning local Mexican food restaurant. On Wednesday, October 13, conference attendees participated in a lively in-person tour of Mesa College that included lunch on campus. 

The conference officially kicked off Wednesday afternoon with the Mesa College Choir performing a beautiful rendition of the national anthem in front of a packed ballroom. Later in the program, Board of Trustees President Maria Nieto Senour and Chancellor Carlos O. Turner Cortez welcomed guests to San Diego. The session included a thought-provoking keynote by Rector (CEO) Dr. William B. Harvey of Danubius University in Galati, Romania. A distinguished researcher, administrator, and author, Dr. Harvey focused on the cultural and social factors that affect underserved populations, with particular emphasis on college and university settings. 

Later that evening, San Diego City Council member and former SDCCD Trustee Sean Elo-Rivera welcomed California delegation members at a reception hosted by the Community College League of California.

Thursday, October 14, included the first of two SDCCD presentations. Chancellor Cortez, Trustee Bernie Rhinerson, Board President Senour, and Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham shared how the district supports student entrepreneurs with “Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Entrepreneurial Education.” Miramar College’s REC Innovation Lab was highlighted and attendees — courtesy of Trustee Rhinerson — enjoyed samples of Cromchies, a pastry company started by a Miramar student. 

Also on Thursday, SDCCD Executive Assistant to the Chancellor Margaret Lamb was honored during the general membership luncheon with the ACCT’s 2021 Association Pacific Region Professional Board Staff Member Award. It was a fitting tribute given Lamb previously served on the ACCT Professional Board Staff Network Executive Committee as the Pacific Region Member-at-Large from 2014-2016, as Vice President from 2016-17, and as President from 2017-18.

On Friday, October 15, Chancellor Cortez, Trustees Geysil Arroyo and Mary Graham, and Dr. Topham presented on “Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Experience, with an Emphasis on the Impact on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” The discussion was well received and generated several questions from attendees. That evening, City College Professor Leroy Brady served as DJ at the conference’s dinner gala. 

Also featured at the conference was artwork from district students, as well as members of Mesa College’s jazz band, which performed at two different receptions. In addition, SDCCE’s Emeritus Program provided entertainment from the San Diego Continuing Education Mandolin Orchestra for a special reception for the outgoing ACCT CEO J. Noah Brown.

Wrapping up the conference, City College alumnus and UC San Diego employee Alberto “Beto” Vasquez shared his personal story, which included experiences with incarceration, gangs, and homelessness. He credits his time at City College for helping him turn around his life. After transferring to UC San Diego and earning his bachelor’s and master’s in biology, Vasquez moved on to San Diego State where he’s finalizing his doctoral studies in educational leadership and plans to pursue a career as a college administrator. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first ACCT Leadership Congress since October 2019. Most recently, the ACCT was held in San Diego in 2015. After a successful week in San Diego, there is no doubt the ACCT will be back again. The district thanks all those who participated, including several employees who served as volunteers at the event assisting with registration and other activities. 

The ACCT represents more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States. The ACCT Leadership Congress is the premier annual conference for community college leaders and is the only national conference dedicated to community college trustees.