I would like to thank all of the faculty, staff and students for a tremendously successful academic year. We are incredibly fortunate to be a part of such a vibrant, innovative, excellent and important institution in the community.

Some of you will be away from the college for the summer – I hope you have an opportunity to refresh and relax. Some of us will be there throughout the summer continuing to serve students and carry out the general operations of the college.
Thank you for your continued and tireless efforts as well.

We will soon publish an annual report that will allow you and the community to reflect on the college’s accomplishments related to the Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Priorities. We have a lot to celebrate and a lot more to do. Your enthusiasm and willingness to engage and participate makes us all better able to serve.

In the next few weeks, we will announce the President’s Innovation Funds Awards so the recipients may return in the fall and begin their projects and programs immediately. The President’s Council raised more than 120,000 dollars – a great job indeed. The requests totaled over a half-million dollars. That means that we were not able to fund all of the great ideas and will definitely encourage the proposers to seek alternate sources and consider applying in the following year. Much more to come on this topic in the near future.

We are finishing up the year with a host of hiring processes as we bring in new faculty, staff and administrators, most of whom we will meet on the opening day in the fall. The work is hard, the process is long and can even be tiresome, but certainly, it is a good problem to have…having to have all these interviews and hire all these great people!

Finally, thank you for the great work in supporting our students in their educational pursuits. We have many who leaving as they graduate, transfer, go to work or do any combination of the three. Yet, we have many more coming in the front door to get started. And we are right here ready to serve them. Let’s all say congratulations to the class of 2014 and welcome to the next class.

Have a wonderful summer….

Article by Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud

 

After 36 years of service to San Mateo County Community College District, Virginia Padrón, retires on May 23, 2014. Virginia began her tenure within the district at Canada College in 1978, where she dedicated herself as a Counselor for the English Institute Program and provided leadership for the Latino/a American community. Since her arrival at Skyline College in 1997, Virginia has worked tirelessly to develop a comprehensive Career Services Program. Under her leadership students have benefited from expanded career counseling faculty, dozens of career themed workshops and classes, access to online career assessments, a comprehensive library of career exploration resources, a dedicated staff to assist in job development and internship services, unforgettable community events such as Career Networking Night, and the founding of the Career Services Center in 2012. Virginia has served with honor and distinction, and leaves an indelible mark at Skyline College that will continue to benefit students for years to come.

In celebration of her retirement, the Counseling Department and Career Services Center hosted a “Bon Voyage” retirement party. In attendance were Chancellor Ron Galatolo, Vice-Chancellor Harry Joel, Vice-Chancellor José D. Nuñez, and Dr. Donald Casella, a former Director of the Career Center at SFSU and Virginia’s long-time mentor. Virginia also received four separate certificates of distinction for her service to San Mateo County including Certificates of Recognition from State Senator Jerry Hill and Congresswoman Jackie Speiers. These awards were presented by representatives from CA Employment Development Department, Jenny Carreno, the San Mateo County Workforce Development Office, Victoria Yeh, and Skyline College Counselor Cecilia Gutierrez. Bon Voyage Virginia! Thank you for 36 years of passion, kindness, and unforgettable leadership!

Check out the photos from the party:

Dean Angélica Garcia and Virginia Padrón

Virginia Padrón, Lavinia Zanassi, Donald A. Casella, and Eric Larson

Virginia Padrón and Cecilia Gutierrez

San Mateo County Workforce Development’s Victoria Yeh, Virginia Padron, and EDD’s Jenny Carreno

 Article by Lezra Chenportillo