Dr. Natalie Berg took the oath of office from State Senator Mark Leno. Dr. Berg is Vice President of the Board for 2008. She was first elected to the Board in 1996.

Chris Jackson raised his hand to receive the oath of office from San Francisco City and County Superior Court Judge Teri Jackson. Trustee Jackson was elected to his first term in 2008.

Milton Marks received the oath of office from San Francisco Supervisor David Campos. Trustee Marks, holding his son, was first elected to the Board in 2000.

Photos by Monica Davey

Steve Ngo takes the oath of office from State Senator Mark Leno. Trustee Ngo was elected to his first term in 2008.

Faculty, classified staff, administrators, students and members of the community formally welcomed Dr. Don Q. Griffin as Chancellor of City College of San Francisco at a reception February 19 in the atrium of the Community Health and Wellness Center on the Ocean Campus. Dr. Griffin is pictured at the podium above. Also pictured in the front row (from left) Trustee Dr. Anita Grier, Trustee Lawrence Wong, Noriko Shinzato representing Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-SF), Board Vice President Dr. Natalie Berg, Trustee John Rizzo, Student Trustee Diana Muñoz-Villanueva and former student trustee Derick  Brown. Not pictured are Board President Milton Marks, Department Chairperson Council President Darlene Alioto and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco–San Mateo).

Faculty, classified staff, administrators, students and the community gathered February 19 to give a formal welcome to Dr. Don Q. Griffin as Chancellor of City College of San Francisco. Dr. Griffin was unanimously selected to be the permanent Chancellor of City College of San Francisco at the December 18, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Community College District. Dr. Griffin had been Chancellor of the 73-year-old community college since March 2008.

Dr. Griffin has 40 years of service at City College both as an instructor and an administrator.  Before becoming Chancellor, Dr. Griffin served simultaneously as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs (Provost) and Vice Chancellor of Student Development, having been promoted from Dean of Instruction.  Prior to becoming an administrator, he was the Chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences where he taught from 1969 to 1996.

Preceding his work at City College, Dr. Griffin served in faculty and administrative roles at San Francisco State University.  A licensed psychologist, Dr. Griffin, served in the Office of Veterans Affairs were he was recognized with an Outstanding Service Award for his work in the East Bay, and community work during the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.

Born in Texas, Chancellor Griffin was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Lemoore, California.  Dr. Griffin was awarded a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He achieved a master’s degree in psychology with emphasis on community college teaching from San Francisco State University.  Active in civic and professional organizations, Dr. Griffin was appointed to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Advisory Committee of Presidents. He is a member of the President’s Roundtable of African American CEOs, and a member of the American Psychological Association.

Photo by Alex Luthi

Turning their shovels in photo at left are (l-r) Associate Vice Chancellor James Blomquist, Student Trustee Diana Munoz-Villanueva, Trustee Milton Marks, Chinatown-North Beach Campus Dean Joanne Low, Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin, Trustee John Rizzo, Trustee Julio J. Ramos, Board President Lawrence Wong, Trustee Rodel E. Rodis, and Board Vice President Dr. Natalie Berg. The groundbreaking ceremony was held November 1 at the construction site at Kearny and Washington streets. Early in December 2008, CCSF settled the lawsuits brought by Neighbors For Preservation, Land Use and Community Education (PLACE), and Montgomery-Washington LP (MWLP). This action eliminated the final legal obstacle in the College’s 13-year effort to build the new campus. The architectural firms are EHDD and Barcelon & Jang Joint Venture. Bovis Lend Lease with CMWest and L.C. Engineering will provide construction management. Excavation of the site has already begun. Construction of the two buildings will commence in July 2009 and be completed by 2011. The 1997, 2001 and 2005 Proposition A Educational Facilities Improvement Bonds will finance the construction.

Photo by Alex Luthi

At least 250 people attended the Grand opening ceremony for the Orfalea Family Center on the Ocean Campus. At right are (l-r) Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin, Trustee Milton Marks, Board Vice President Dr. Natalie Berg, Board President Lawrence Wong who served as Master of Ceremony, Natalie Orfalea who with her husband Paul (not pictured) are providing operational funding for the Center, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco and San Mateo), Commissioner Hydra Mendoza who is Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Education Advisor, Trustee John Rizzo and Trustee Rodel E. Rodis. MKThink is the architect of the facility. Hunt Construction Group, Inc., is the contractor. Construction funding was provided by 2001 and 2005 Proposition A Education Facilities Improvement Bonds.

Photo by Monica Davey

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (second from left) announced a National Science Foundation grant to City College of San Francisco (CCSF) for the purpose of founding the Mid-Pacific Information and Communications Technologies (MPICT) Regional Center. She is pictured with (from left) CCSF Trustee John Rizzo, Chair of the Board’s Technology Committee; Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin; and Board Vice President Dr. Natalie Berg. Speier made the announcement at a press conference November 14 at the CCSF Mission Campus. MPICT will coordinate, promote and improve the quality of information and communications technologies (ICT) education in northern California, northern Nevada, southern Oregon, Hawaii and the Pacific Territories. Cabrillo College, Foothill College, Ohlone College and Santa Rosa Junior College are MPICT sub-awardees.

Pictured above are the students who were graduated from the City College of San Francisco Fire Academy in December 2008. Students who complete CCSF Fire Academy according to California State Fire Marshal Office of State Fire Training standards receive an Educational Firefighter One Certificate which allows them to test with fire departments. Students who meet additional state requirements can then apply to State Fire Training for the vocational Firefighter One certification. “We have one student who is completing the process to be a state certified Firefighter One,” says Jim Connors, Instructor/Coordinator, Fire Science Academy, adding, “the first Academy class graduated in May 2008 with 29 students, three of whom have now been accepted into the CCSF paramedic program at John Adams Campus. Other students are actively testing to become career firefighters.”

Photos by Monica Davey

The John Burton Foundation awarded scholarships to Guardian Scholars students of City College November 25th at a ceremony held in the Pierre Coste Dining Room. Twenty-five students received these scholarships in recognition of their persistence and success in attendance at CCSF.  Pictured above are two recipients, Armand and Verenice, accepting their awards from retired California State Senate Pro-Tem John Burton. The event was a kick-off ceremony for this statewide scholarship program. The scholarship is available to students who are first-time eligible to receive the Chafee Grant, a federal program for young men and women who had ward of the court status as minors. The Guardian Scholars program at CCSF, which began in the Spring 2008 term, serves 160 students. If you are interested in serving as a mentor for a Guardian Scholar, please call (415) 239-3682 or email Michael McPartlin at mmcpartl@ccsf.edu.

Generous benefactor Lillie Wong (second from right) was recognized for her contributions to the construction of the new Chinatown/North Beach Campus. She is pictured next to her nephew, Board Member Lawrence Wong (far right). Also pictured are speakers CCSF Student Ronnie Pega (left) and CCSF Counselor Nicole Wise.

Photos by Thomas John Gibbons

Prominent members of the Foundation of City College of San Francisco at the Basic Skills Luncheon included (left to right) Haig Mardikian, President of the Foundation; Debra Dooley, Foundation Board Member and President of the Foundation Auxiliary; Genelle Relfe, Member of the Foundation Board and solicitor of corporate sponsors, and Walter Newman, Member of the Foundation Board and major donor.

The fourth annual Foundation of City College of San Francisco Basic Skills Luncheon held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel on September 25 was attended by more than 350 supporters and raised $270,000. The funds will be used to provide $500 per-semester scholarships to support students in mastering the fundamental skills of reading, writing, and math.

Kate Kelly, CBS 5 TV anchor, emceed the stellar event where Trustee President Lawrence Wong presented his aunt, Lillie Wong, with a thank you from the Foundation for her philanthropic support of the Chinatown/North Beach Campus.

Major Donors to the Basic Skills Luncheon included: Wells Fargo Bank ($50,000); Chevron Corporation ($25,000); Terry and Nancy Otton ($25,000); John and Venetta Rohal ($25,000); Pacific Gas and Electric ($20,000); Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation ($10,000); Tamara Fritz ($10,000); John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn ($10,000); AAA of Northern California, Nevada & Utah ($5,000); Margaret Liu Collins and Ted Collins ($5,000); Mary Jo and Dick Kovacevich ($5,000); Mary and Andy Pilara ($5,000)

The luncheon was organized by the Auxiliary of the Foundation of City College of San Francisco, led by President of the Auxiliary Debra Dooley, Basic Skills Luncheon Chair Venetta Rohal, and Host Committee Co-Chairs Eve Masonek and De Ann Spalding.

The books were donated by members of the Auxiliary and other supporters and friends of the College. Saks Fifth Avenue donated many new copies of “New York.” John’s Grill generously provided the wine. Other donations were made by the Balloon Lady, CDC Distributing Inc., See’s Candies, and Lewis Sykes Event Design.

at&t presented a check for $10,000 to the Mission Campus Homework Club at the Board of Trustees meeting January 29 as part of at&t’s  $100 million nationwide contribution to workforce and college readiness preparation. Pictured from left are: Steve Ngo, Trustee; Diana Muñoz-Villanueva, Student Trustee; Dr. Carlota del Portillo, Dean, Mission Campus; Dr. Don Q. Griffin, Chancellor; Chris Jackson, Trustee; Tedi Vrihaes, Area Manager, External Affairs, AT&T California; Lawrence Wong, Trustee; John Rizzo, Trustee; Dr. Natalie Berg, Board Vice President; Milton Marks, Board President; Dr. Anita Grier, Trustee.

Photo by Alex Luthi

Members of the planning and presentation team for the Microsoft Innovation in Education and Technology workshops held November 3 at City College of San Francisco included (from left) Dr. Don Q. Griffin, Chancellor; Carmen Lamha, Chair, Computer Networking and Information Technology Department; Steve Falk, President and CEO, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce; Celeste M. Alleyne, Western Region Citizenship Director, Microsoft; Anthony Salcito, General Manager, US Education, Microsoft; unidentified Microsoft representative; Kenny Spade, Academic Development Evangelist, Microsoft.