Priorities
My priorities are informed by my decade of involvement at PCC and my experiences working in higher education policy. As a Trustee, I’ll (1) ensure that all PCC students can succeed in their education and future careers, (2) collaborate with the community, and (3) promote responsive leadership.
1. Ensuring that All PCC Students Can Succeed in their Education and Careers
Over the last decade, I’ve mentored and helped countless PCC students navigate their college and career plans. Students come to PCC to further their education and careers. As a PCC Trustee, I’ll focus on ensuring that students can access the necessary classes and opportunities to achieve their education and career goals. For example, I’d expand offerings in courses that are necessary to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
I’d also focus on PCC’s career technical education to provide students the opportunity who are interested in the trades and vocational professions with the right training and education. I’d collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and the trades to expand internships and apprenticeships for PCC students to attain hands-on learning that’ll complement their time in the classroom. I’ve also worked with students who want to study fields that are unavailable at CSUs and UCs. As such, I’d champion PCC joining the growing ranks of community colleges that offer baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields that focus on local and regional workforce needs.
But just offering the right learning and career-training opportunities isn’t always enough. As a former low-income student who worked multiple jobs while at PCC, I understand the difficulties and struggles our students face. That’s why I’ll also prioritize programs and resources that are essential for student success, such as financial aid, counseling, and academic support services.
2. Collaborating with the Community
As a Trustee, I’ll be actively and consistently engaged in the communities that PCC serves in Area 6, which includes El Monte, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Arcadia, and Temple City. For years, I’ve worked with local K-12 schools, teachers, and counselors to engage students in thinking about and planning for their higher education. I understand the importance of collaborating with community leaders, stakeholders, and organizations to advance PCC’s education mission. That’s why I’d work with local school districts to expand initiatives like dual enrollment with local high schools, which allows students to take community college courses while still in high school. Dual enrollment helps students save money on college classes and provides them with an early start to their higher education. I’d also work with local stakeholders to identify and advance ways that PCC can serve the community, such as by connecting local small businesses to PCC’s Small Business Development Center that provides low-cost training to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
3. Promoting Responsive Leadership
I know the importance of responsive leadership on campus that listens to all stakeholders. I participated in shared governance at PCC while serving on our student government in meetings with trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff. I’ve collaborated with administrators and staff at PCC in numerous capacities through the years, such as by serving on the board of PCC’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Advisory Committee and working as an independent contractor with PCC’s Transfer Center to mentor students. And I’ve also understood the faculty perspective from my PCC professors and my partner, who teaches at several local community colleges and taught at PCC. As a Trustee, I’ll prioritize building an accountable and transparent culture for PCC’s leadership by remaining approachable, responsive, and available to all campus stakeholders.
1. Ensuring that All PCC Students Can Succeed in their Education and Careers
Over the last decade, I’ve mentored and helped countless PCC students navigate their college and career plans. Students come to PCC to further their education and careers. As a PCC Trustee, I’ll focus on ensuring that students can access the necessary classes and opportunities to achieve their education and career goals. For example, I’d expand offerings in courses that are necessary to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
I’d also focus on PCC’s career technical education to provide students the opportunity who are interested in the trades and vocational professions with the right training and education. I’d collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and the trades to expand internships and apprenticeships for PCC students to attain hands-on learning that’ll complement their time in the classroom. I’ve also worked with students who want to study fields that are unavailable at CSUs and UCs. As such, I’d champion PCC joining the growing ranks of community colleges that offer baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields that focus on local and regional workforce needs.
But just offering the right learning and career-training opportunities isn’t always enough. As a former low-income student who worked multiple jobs while at PCC, I understand the difficulties and struggles our students face. That’s why I’ll also prioritize programs and resources that are essential for student success, such as financial aid, counseling, and academic support services.
2. Collaborating with the Community
As a Trustee, I’ll be actively and consistently engaged in the communities that PCC serves in Area 6, which includes El Monte, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Arcadia, and Temple City. For years, I’ve worked with local K-12 schools, teachers, and counselors to engage students in thinking about and planning for their higher education. I understand the importance of collaborating with community leaders, stakeholders, and organizations to advance PCC’s education mission. That’s why I’d work with local school districts to expand initiatives like dual enrollment with local high schools, which allows students to take community college courses while still in high school. Dual enrollment helps students save money on college classes and provides them with an early start to their higher education. I’d also work with local stakeholders to identify and advance ways that PCC can serve the community, such as by connecting local small businesses to PCC’s Small Business Development Center that provides low-cost training to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
3. Promoting Responsive Leadership
I know the importance of responsive leadership on campus that listens to all stakeholders. I participated in shared governance at PCC while serving on our student government in meetings with trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff. I’ve collaborated with administrators and staff at PCC in numerous capacities through the years, such as by serving on the board of PCC’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Advisory Committee and working as an independent contractor with PCC’s Transfer Center to mentor students. And I’ve also understood the faculty perspective from my PCC professors and my partner, who teaches at several local community colleges and taught at PCC. As a Trustee, I’ll prioritize building an accountable and transparent culture for PCC’s leadership by remaining approachable, responsive, and available to all campus stakeholders.