New student trustees eager to contribute

July 20, 2023 | San Diego Community College District
From left, SDCCD student trustees Adriana Dos Santos, Namod Pallek, Diego Bethea, and Ixchel Valencia Diaz are sworn in by SDCCD Board of Trustees President Maria Nieto Senour, center, at the June 15 Board of Trustees meeting.

From left, SDCCD student trustees Adriana Dos Santos, Namod Pallek, Diego Bethea, and Ixchel Valencia Diaz are sworn in by SDCCD Board of Trustees President Maria Nieto Senour, center, at the June 15 Board of Trustees meeting.

The San Diego Community College District has four new student trustees who will serve for the upcoming academic year. The four, Diego Bethea (City College), Ixchel Valencia Diaz (Mesa College), Namod Pallek (Miramar College), and Adriana Dos Santos (College of Continuing Education), were sworn in during the June 15 SDCCD Board of Trustees meeting. 

They officially began their work as student trustees on July 1. Since then, they have participated in training sessions and marched in the July 15 Pride Parade. 

The SDCCD is governed by a five-member elected Board of Trustees. Student representatives from each of the colleges also serve a one-year term filling a student trustee position on a rotating basis.

Student trustees rotate attendance at board meetings, as well as participate in advocacy visits and represent students at various events. During 2022-23, student trustees participated in state and federal advocacy meetings that included trips to Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

Bethea returns to his position after serving as a student trustee in 2022-23. He said the group is looking forward to serving the district.

“The new student trustees for Mesa, Miramar, and College of Continuing Education are all phenomenal, excellent advocates for students, are aware of challenges students face, and bring a variety of ideas to solve those problem,” Bethea said.

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