Hello Everyone!
I am in the final two months of serving as Chancellor. I just concluded my last Board of Governors meeting a few hours ago and wanted to share with you some of my comments. I publicly thanked staff and acknowledged that you all are underpaid and overworked. There aren’t enough nice 
things I can say about you all. Let me assure you that the Board members really appreciate all the work you do and how well you serve students and staff.
I presented a report prior to today’s Board meeting and shared with them what we all have accomplished together. Certainly the most memorable to me and the most meaningful to our students was the Osher Foundation’s generous $70 million donation. I am proud that under our watch, we secured the largest gift ever given to community colleges. We can all feel very proud about this and imagine how this will impact the lives of so many students for years to come. Other significant accomplishments over the last 16 months include improving basic skills, maintaining a unified strategy with our UC and CSU colleagues in fighting budget cuts, partnering with First Lady Maria Shriver in broadcasting the 2008 Women’s Conference at 50 of our community colleges as well as continuing to implement the System Strategic Plan. I could not have done any of these accomplishments without strong staff support. I want to take this opportunity to Thank You! It has been a real joy to work with such a great team that we have staffing the System Office and also at the Foundation. This job has truly been the capstone of my entire professional career. I loved having the opportunity of working with you and our 110 colleges in making a difference of 2.73 million students.
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Earlier today, I shared with the Board that I received a call from the Governor’s Office last week. They sounded an alarm. They have never seen such a worst budgetary scenario. Projected state revenues are low. Senator Jack Scott, my successor, who attended the meeting this morning, told Board members that he’s made it clear to the Administration that we need to look at increasing revenues. This is what he said verbatim: “We just can’t keep cutting education and choosing to solve the problem on the back of school children and college students.” I was so pleased that Jack made that declarative statement. That’s the kind of leadership we need in this time. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for a special session. We’ll have to see what happens. I’ve told Jack and the Board that if there’s any way I can help after I leave -- I’m just a phone call away.
Well you’ve probably heard that Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Geoffrey Baum, a Pasadena Area Community College District trustee, and education policy expert Scott Himelstein, who served as undersecretary in the Office of Education, to the Board. Geoff and Scott are both wonderful new additions to the Board.
In other Board news, the American Association of Community College Trustees named our very own Kay Albiani, former Board President, the top trustee award in the country. It was very competitive and I am so happy to see Kay receive the award. Kay appeared at Board meeting. Members of the Board extended their personal congratulations. Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Mark Drummond was also present.
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Speaking of awards, we held our staff formal recognition ceremony last month and I want to again extend my congratulations to Francesca Reitano for receiving the Superior Performance as an Individual award. Francesca has worked very hard and has been a dedicated worker for many years. She really deserves this award.
I also would like congratulate Bonnie Cortopassi, Cynthia Couch, Maria Esparza, April Lován-Martinez, Liz Ryan, Asha Sharma, Jubilee Smallwood, Angie Torres and Pamela Young. This group of ladies – affectionately known as the Accounting Team -- received the Superior Performance as a Group. What more superlatives can I say about the Accounting Team? I would be remiss if I didn’t thank April’s additional staff – Signa Crutcher, Carla Lenerd, Leatha Nottingham and Shyreen Ruppert.
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I just want to say that I really appreciate Charlotte Marks. I heard that days after she lost her father, she was back at work spreading joy to everyone else. That’s the kind of person she is and she represents the kind staff we have working here. I recall when I used to attend Board meetings representing The League and Charlotte was the Executive Secretary to the Board, she moved with such alacrity. She was very efficient, quite vivacious and has carried that work ethic whatever position she occupies here. We’re fortunate she’s on staff. My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.
We also pray for Richard Quintana’s speedy and complete recovery.
In closing, I’m looking forward to celebrating the Holiday Season together at the annual System Office/Foundation Holiday Party, on Friday, December 19 at the Embassy Suites. See you then!
--Diane Woodruff