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Each member has been appointed to a two-year term.
“These three new appointments are well qualified to help lead our system and each has been directly involved in the operation of their local district or college,” Chancellor Jack Scott said. “And Manuel Baca has shown that he has great depth of knowledge and really cares about the issues facing the system. I welcome all four of these outstanding people to the board and look forward to working with each one of them.”
The new members include:
– Joseph Bielanski, of San Francisco, has been an institutional effectiveness coordinator for the Peralta Community College District and articulation officer at Berkeley City College since 2009. He was president of the district academic senate at Peralta Community College District from 2004 to 2009 and president of the academic senate for Berkeley City College from 2005 to 2009, after serving as co-president from 2003 to 2005. He was an articulation officer at Vista Community College from 2000 to 2004. Bielanski received his doctorate of education from St. Mary’s College.
– Jurena Storm, of Oakland, has been appointed as a student representative to the board. Storm is enrolled at both the College of Alameda and the University of California, Berkeley. She has served as the communications officer for the California Community College Association of Student Trustees and as a member on the board of trustees for the Peralta Community Colleges District from 2010 until this year. She also was the secretary for the College of Alameda Associated Students from 2008 to 2009 and vice president of administration from 2009 to 2010. Storm also served as chair elect, secretary and interim senator for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, Region III in 2010.
– Ning Yang, of Sacramento, also has been appointed as a student representative to the board. Yang is pursuing an associate degree in psychology at Mendocino College. Yang has served as general assembly planning committee chair and a senator for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, Region II since 2010. She also served as a housing programs representative for the Community Development Commission of Mendocino County in 2010 and student president for Mendocino College from 2008 to 2009.
– Manuel Baca, of Diamond Bar, has been a professor at Rio Hondo College since 1997. Baca served as vice president of student services for Rio Hondo College from 1991 to 1997 and director of the extended opportunity program and services, financial aid and veteran’s services from 1982 to 1991. In 2005, Baca was a member of the California Community Colleges System Strategic Plan Steering Committee where he and other state leaders developed the Community College System Strategic Plan for California. He holds a Ph.D. in education from the University of Southern California. His bachelor and master degrees are from California State University, Fullerton where he was recently named one of 50 successful ("Querer es Poder") alumni.
None of the appointees require Senate confirmation and each receives a $100 per diem in compensation. All four are Democrats.
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors sets policy and provides guidance for the system. The 17-member board formally interacts with state and federal officials and other organizations. The board also selects a chancellor for the system. Baca and Bielanski fill the two faculty positions on the board while Storm and Yang will occupy the two student board positions. Storm is the voting member for the students.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.6 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills courses in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
