YUBA CITY, Calif. – The Board of Trustees of the Yuba Community College District announced the resignation of Trustee Xavier Tafoya from Trustee Area 6, effective Sept. 1.

Tafoya served the education community, including faculty, students and the administration, as well as the community of Yolo County in an exemplary manner as the trustee of Area 6 of the Yuba Community College District from December 2000 until September 2018.

“Xavier Tafoya leaves a legacy of dedicated service to his community and to the Yuba Community College District. He was and still is a tireless advocate for students and for Woodland,” said Chancellor Douglas Houston, “His numerous contributions while on the Governing Board have positioned YCCD to thrive in the years to come.”

Serving on the board for 18 years, Tafoya was elected as the YCCD Board chair/president in 2004 and again in 2011, guiding the board and district through times of changes.

Tafoya’s leadership was instrumental in the accreditation of Woodland Community College, the passing of the $190 million Measure J Bond, and the development of a District Diversity Plan to attract qualified people of color to the faculty of the district’s colleges.

“Trustee Tafoya’s contributions, insight, and selfless service to our students and community will be missed. Filling his seat on the board was not an easy task,” said Board President Michael Pasquale. “The board has risen to that challenge with the provisional appointment of Ms. Susan Alves.”

Upon Tafoya’s resignation, the Yuba Community College District Board of Trustees initiated a search to provisionally appoint a new trustee, receiving three highly qualified applicants from the process.

The governing board conducted interviews with each applicant at a regular meeting of the board on Oct. 11 and took action to appoint Alves to fill the vacancy.

Alves took the oath of office at the Board of Trustees’ regular meeting on Nov. 8.

“We welcome Trustee Alves and I look forward to working with her in advocating for our students and district,” President Pasquale said.

Alves received her Bachelor of Science in agriculture, with an emphasis on education, from California State University, Chico and her California Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential from California State University, Sacramento.

She served as the principal of Maxwell Elementary School in Woodland from 2002 until 2011.

In 2011, Ms. Alves volunteered with the United States Peace Corps in Paraguay, South America where she worked with Paraguayans to provide training and accomplish goals in reforestation, soil recuperation, teacher training and English language instruction.

Upon returning from service in the Peace Corps, Alves taught second, fourth and fifth grades at Whitehead and Woodland Prairie Elementary Schools from 2013 until her retirement in 2018.

“Trustee Alves has clearly dedicated herself to public service,” said Chancellor Douglas Houston, “She will be an excellent addition to the YCCD Governing Board and I look forward to working with her.”

YCCD spans eight counties and nearly 4,192 square miles of territory in rural, north-central California.

For more information about YCCD, please visit www.yccd.edu.