Tuesday, November 12, 2024

What's Happening at Cañada: Week of November 11, 2024

What's Happening at Cañada Header 

 Spring 2025 Registration 

Priority registration for the Spring 2025 Semester started on October 30 and open enrollment begins November 13. Check your registration date with these easy steps:
  1. Log in to your account using “mySMCCD OneLogin.”
  2. Click on “WebSmart”
  3. Click on “Student Services.” 
  4. Click on ‘Registration.”
  5. Click on “Check here for the time and date you may begin registration.”
  6. Select the term you’re seeking information about

Your registration date is affected by having a current Student Educational Plan (SEP). If you don’t have an updated plan, contact the Cañada Counseling Center.
 

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Forums Start Today

Cañada College is searching for a new permanent Vice President of Student  Services. You can read the full announcement here. To ensure our campus hears from each finalist candidate, we will hold live in-person Forums November 12-15. Links to register for the in-person forums are below:

Date/Time

Finalist

Location

Forum Registration Link

Tuesday, November 12 from 2-3 p.m.

René Alvarez

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Wednesday, November 13 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Sam Morgan

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Thursday, November 14 from 2-3 p.m.

Lizette Bricker

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Friday, November 15 from 11 a.m. -12 p.m.

JP Schumacher

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Friday, November 15 from 2-3 p.m.

Luis Escobar

Building 13, Room 330

Register















 

While the forums will be conducted live in person, the questions for the candidates will be gathered in advance with the consultation of leadership from Student Senate, Classified Senate and Academic Senate. All forums will be recorded and available for viewing after the live events. These recordings will be shared in a follow up campus wide email which will also include forms for you to share your feedback. The feedback forms will be live after each forum. The deadline to submit all feedback forms will be Monday, November 25, 2024 at 5 p.m. Thank you in advance for your participation and feedback. We value your input.
 

November is Deadlines Month! Transfer Application Assistance

The COLTS-U Transfer Center is continuing to offer in-person and virtual transfer application workshops throughout the month of November. This year, the final deadlines for both the UC and CSU transfer applications for Fall 2025 admissions is on Monday, December 2. We encourage students to plan on submitting their applications BEFORE the Thanksgiving Holiday! Counselors and staff are ready to assist students working on applications in Building 9, Room 106 for extended drop-in hours leading up to the December deadline. For updated information on days and times, please visit: Transfer Center Workshop/Drop-in Schedule
 

SMCCCD Athletic Center's Fall Showcase 

You're invited to a series of special Athletic Center Fall Showcase events on Saturday, November 16, at College of San Mateo's Athletic Center and Sunday, November 17, at Cañada College's Athletic Center . The two-day event highlights the top offerings of our Athletic Centers. All SMCCCD students, faculty, or staff who aren't members can participate in our unique programs or explore at leisure. Enjoy light snacks and refreshments! Please RSVP if you would like to attend one of these free events!
 

Upcoming Events

For a complete listing of events, visit the Events Calendar.
 

Through December 9

Cañada Art Gallery: “Bill Morales: Recent Works”

Art Gallery - Building 9, Room 152
 

Every Tuesday

Free Groceries – Weekly Food Distribution

11:00am - 1:00pm
Lot 6
 

Arts & Crafts with Student Life

11:00am - 12:00pm Weekly (to Dec 15)
Club House, Building 5, Room 350
 

Ruck N’ Walk

12:00pm - 12:30pm Weekly (to Dec 3)
Building 9, Room 151
 

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

SparkPoint Market

12:00pm - 4:00pm
Building 5, Room 222
 

Tuesday, November 12

Drop-in Hours for Transfer Application Help

11:00am - 1:00pm
Building 9, Room 106
 

Veteran’s Week: LGBTQIA+ in the Military

12:30pm - 1:30pm
Cultural Center, Building 17 Room 107
 

(Women’s Soccer) San Francisco vs. Cañada

12:30pm - 3:30pm
Colts Field
 

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Forum: René Alvarez

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Building 13, Room 330
 

Scholarship Workshop

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Building 9, 2nd Floor (Writing Center)
 

(Men’s Soccer) Foothill vs. Cañada

3:00pm - 6:00pm
Colts Field
 

Wednesday, November 13

Open Enrollment for Spring Begins

All Day
 

UC Application Workshop

11:00am - 12:00pm
Building 9, Room 206
 

Drop-in Hours for Transfer Application Help

12:00pm - 2:00pm
Building 9, Room 106
 

Veteran’s Week: Veteran Short Film Fest

12:30pm - 1:30pm
Building 9, Room 151
 

Financial Aid Workshops

2:00pm - 4:00pm
Building 9, Room 110
 

Districtwide Sustainability Committee

2:30pm - 4:00pm
Online
 

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Forum: Sam Morgan

2:30pm - 3:30pm
Building 13, Room 330
 

Finding sources using Library Databases!

5:30pm - 6:30pm
 

Thursday, November 14

CSU Application Workshop

11:00am - 12:00pm
Online
 

Summer 2025 in Rome Information Session

12:00pm - 1:00pm
Online
 

San Jose State University Representatives at Cañada College

12:00pm - 3:00pm
Building 9, Room 106
 

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Forum: Lizette Bricker

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Building 13, Room 330
 

Student Senate Business Meetings

3:30pm - 5:30pm
Building 1, Room 214
 

Friday, November 15

Financial Literacy Fridays - Budget Design & Tips

10:00am - 11:00am
Building 9, Room 123
 

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Forum: JP Schumacher

11:00am - 12:00pm
Building 13, Room 330
 

(Men’s Soccer) Ohlone vs. Cañada

1:00pm - 4:00pm
Colts Field
 

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Forum: Luis Escobar

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Building 13, Room 330
 

(Women’s Soccer) Gavilan vs. Cañada

3:00pm - 6:00pm
Colts Field
 

(Men’s Basketball) Merritt vs. Cañada

5:30pm - 8:30pm
Building 1 Gym
 

Saturday, November 16

Finding sources using Library Databases!

11:00am - 12:00pm
 

Monday, November 18

Grand Canyon University Tabling

1:00pm - 3:00pm
The Grove (Building 5)
 

International Movie Night

3:00pm - 5:00pm
Building 3, Room 148
 

Intern-Club Council (ICC) Meetings

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Building 1, Room 214
 

APA Basics

5:00pm - 5:30pm
Library Classroom 9-312
 

Tuesday, November 19

Story Circle with Indigenous Students

1:00am - 2:00am
Cultural Center, Building 17 Room 107
 

International Wellness Fair

11:00am - 1:00pm
The Grove (Building 5)
 

Battle of the Bay International Trivia

1:30pm - 2:30pm
Club House, Building 5, Room 350
 

Scholarship Workshop

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Building 9, 2nd Floor (Writing Center)
 

Barcelona Fall 2025 Information Session #1

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Online
 

Wednesday, November 20

Matcha and Mindfulness

10:00am - 11:00am
Cultural Center, Reparative Room, Building 17 Room 109
 

Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Day of Remembrance

12:30pm - 2:00pm
Cultural Center, Reparative Room, Building 17 Room 109
 

Brothers Achieving Milestones (BAM): Community Event

1:00pm - 2:30pm
Cultural Center, Building 17 Room 107
 

Drop-in Hours for Transfer Application Help

1:00pm - 3:00pm
Building 9, Room 106
 

Financial Aid Workshops

2:00pm - 4:00pm
Building 9, Room 110
 

APA Basics

2:00pm - 2:45pm
Library Classroom 9-312
 

Planning and Budgeting Council Position Request Presentations

2:10pm - 4:00pm
Building 13, Room 233
 

Math JAM Workshop: Trigonometry for Math 225 #1

3:30pm - 4:30pm
Building 9, Room 257A
 

MLA Basics

4:30pm - 5:30pm
Library Classroom 9-312
 

Thursday, November 21

Math JAM Workshop: Trigonometry for Math 225 #2

1:00pm - 2:00pm
Building 9, Room 257A
 

UC Application Workshop

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Online
 

Planning and Budgeting Council Position Request Presentations

2:10pm - 4:00pm
Building 13, Room 233
 

Peru Summer 2025 Information Session #1

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Online
 

Student Senate Business Meetings

3:30pm - 5:30pm
Building 1, Room 214
 

Friday, November 22

MLA Basics

9:00am - 9:45am
Library Classroom 9-312
 

APA Basics

10:00am - 10:45am
Library Classroom 9-312
 

Financial Literacy Fridays - Investing 101

10:00am - 11:00am
Building 9, Room 123
 

Womxn of Color Collaborative - Financial Health

11:00am - 1:00pm
Cultural Center, Building 17 Room 107
 

Saturday, November 23

Shostakovich 4th Symphony

8:00pm - 10:00pm
Building 3, Main Theatre
 

Tuesday, November 26

Equity and Antiracism Planning Council Business Meeting

2:10pm - 4:00pm Monthly (to Nov 27)
Building 9, Room 154
 

(Men’s Basketball) Modesto vs. Cañada

5:00pm - 8:00pm
Building 1 Gym

 

For disability-related accommodations, please email canvpss@smccd.edu or call (650) 306-3234.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

What's Happening at Cañada: Week of November 4, 2024

What's Happening at Cañada Header 

Today is Election Day!

Remember to vote and make your voice heard. If you’re not registered, you can register and vote on the same day at polling locations using a provisional ballot. You can also drop off your completed ballot at our new Ballot Box on campus, located in Lot 4 by the Bookstore. Please click here if you are looking for your in-person voting location or additional Ballot Box drop-off locations.
 

Spring 2025 Registration 

Priority registration for the Spring 2025 Semester started on October 30 and open enrollment begins November 13. Check your registration date with these easy steps:

  1. Log in to your account using “mySMCCD OneLogin.”
  2. Click on “WebSmart”
  3. Click on “Student Services.” 
  4. Click on ‘Registration.”
  5. Click on “Check here for the time and date you may begin registration.”
  6. Select the term you’re seeking information about

Your registration date is affected by having a current Student Educational Plan (SEP). If you don’t have an updated plan, contact the Cañada Counseling Center.
 

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Forums

Cañada College is searching for a new permanent Vice President of Student  Services. You can read the full announcement here. To ensure our campus hears from each finalist candidate, we will hold live in-person Forums November 12-15. Links to register for the in-person forums are below:

Date/Time

Finalist

Location

Forum Registration Link

Tuesday, November 12 from 2-3 p.m.

René Alvarez

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Wednesday, November 13 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Sam Morgan

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Thursday, November 14 from 2-3 p.m.

Lizette Bricker

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Friday, November 15 from 11 a.m. -12 p.m.

J.P. Schumacher

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Friday, November 15 from 2-3 p.m.

Luis Escobar

Building 13, Room 330

Register


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the forums will be conducted live in person, the questions for the candidates will be gathered in advance with the consultation of leadership from Student Senate, Classified Senate and Academic Senate. All forums will be recorded and available for viewing after the live events. These recordings will be shared in a follow up campus wide email which will also include forms for you to share your feedback. The feedback forms will be live after each forum. The deadline to submit all feedback forms will be Monday, November 25, 2024 at 5 p.m. Thank you in advance for your participation and feedback. We value your input.
 

November is Deadlines Month! Transfer Application Assistance

The COLTS-U Transfer Center is continuing to offer in-person and virtual transfer application workshops throughout the month of November. This year, the final deadlines for both the UC and CSU transfer applications for Fall 2025 admissions is on Monday, December 2. We encourage students to plan on submitting their applications BEFORE the Thanksgiving Holiday! Counselors and staff are ready to assist students working on applications in Building 9, Room 106 for extended drop-in hours leading up to the December deadline. For updated information on days and times, please visit:  Transfer Center Workshop/Drop-in Schedule
 

SMCCCD Athletic Center's Fall Showcase 

You're invited to a series of special Athletic Center Fall Showcase events on Saturday, November 16, at College of San Mateo's Athletic Center and Sunday, November 17, at Cañada College's Athletic Center . The two-day event highlights the top offerings of our Athletic Centers. All SMCCCD students, faculty, or staff who aren't members can participate in our unique programs or explore at leisure. Enjoy light snacks and refreshments! Please RSVP if you would like to attend one of these free events!
 

Upcoming Events

For a complete listing of events, visit the Events Calendar.
 

Through December 9

Cañada Art Gallery: “Bill Morales: Recent Works”

Art Gallery - Building 9, Room 152
 

Every Tuesday

Free Groceries – Weekly Food Distribution

11:00am - 1:00pm
Lot 6
 

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

SparkPoint Market

12:00pm - 4:00pm
Building 5, Room 222
 

Monday, November 4

Intern-Club Council (ICC) Meetings

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Building 1, Room 214
 

Tuesday, November 5

Presidential General Election

7:00am - 8:00pm
 

Arts & Crafts with Student Life

11:00am - 12:00pm
Club House, Building 5, Room 350
 

Ruck N’ Walk

12:00pm - 12:30pm
Building 9, Room 151
 

Wednesday, November 6

Donuts & Beats

9:00am - 10:30am
Club House, Building 5, Room 350
 

Understanding Stress and Finding Calm in Uncertain Times

11:30am - 12:30pm
Building 9, Room 123
 

The Lunch Breaks

11:30am - 1:00pm
Amphitheatre
 

Brothers Achieving Milestones (BAM): Counseling Support

1:00pm - 2:30pm
Building 13, Room 331
 

CSU Application Workshop

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Building 9, Room 206
 

Planning and Budgeting Council Meeting

2:10pm - 4:00pm
Building 13, Room 233
 

Thursday, November 7

Transfer Abroad to France, Webinar: November 7

9:00am - 10:00am
Online
 

Introduction to Microsoft Excel

11:00am - 12:00pm
Library Classroom 9-312
 

Dia de Muertos Celebration

12:00pm - 1:30pm
Cultural Center, Building 17 Room 107
 

UCPIQ (UC Personal Insight Questions) Workshop

1:00pm - 2:00pm
Building 9, Room 206
 

Satisfaction Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Workshop

1:00pm - 2:30pm
Building 9, Room 110
 

Student Senate Business Meetings

3:30pm - 5:30pm
Building 1, Room 214
 

Opening Reception Bill Morales

4:00pm - 7:00pm
Building 9, Room 152, Art Gallery
 

Dia de Muertos Casa Circulo Folkloric Dance Performance

6:00pm - 8:00pm
Building 3, Main Theatre
 

Friday, November 8

Financial Literacy Fridays - Building Your Credit

10:00am - 11:00am
Building 9, Room 123
 

Saturday, November 9

Declared Recess

All Day – No Classes & Offices Closed
 

Veteran’s Week Tailgate Kickoff

10:30am - 12:30pm
College of San Mateo, Parking Lot T
 

(Men’s Basketball) Reedley vs. Cañada

3:00pm - 6:00pm
Building 1 Gym
 

Sunday, November 10

Declared Recess

All Day – No Classes & Offices Closed
 

Monday, November 11

Last Day to Withdraw from Semester Length Classes

All Day
 

Veterans Day (Holiday)

All Day – No Classes & Offices Closed
 

Tuesday, November 12

Arts & Crafts with Student Life

11:00am - 12:00pm
Club House, Building 5, Room 350
 

Ruck N’ Walk

12:00pm - 12:30pm
Building 9, Room 151
 

Veteran’s Week: LGBTQIA+ in the Military

12:30pm - 1:30pm
Cultural Center, Building 17 Room 107
 

(Women’s Soccer) San Francisco vs. Cañada

12:30pm - 3:30pm
Colts Field
 

Scholarship Workshop

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Building 9, 2nd Floor (Writing Center)
 

(Men’s Soccer) Foothill vs. Cañada

3:00pm - 6:00pm
Colts Field
 

Wednesday, November 13

Open Enrollment for Spring Begins

All Day
 

UC Application Workshop

11:00am - 12:00pm
Building 9, Room 206
 

Veteran’s Week: Veteran Short Film Fest

12:30pm - 1:30pm
Building 9, Room 151
 

Financial Aid Workshops

2:00pm - 4:00pm
Building 9, Room 110
 

Districtwide Sustainability Committee

2:30pm - 4:00pm
Online
 

Finding sources using Library Databases!

5:30pm - 6:30pm
 

Thursday, November 14

CSU Application Workshop

11:00am - 12:00pm
Online
 

Summer 2025 in Rome Information Session

12:00pm - 1:00pm
Online
 

San Jose State University Representatives at Cañada College

12:00pm - 3:00pm
Building 9, Room 106
 

Veteran’s Week: Ruck N’ Walk

12:30pm - 1:00pm
Building 9, Room 151
 

Student Senate Business Meetings

3:30pm - 5:30pm
Building 1, Room 214
 

Friday, November 15

Financial Literacy Fridays - Budget Design & Tips

10:00am - 11:00am
Building 9, Room 123
 

(Men’s Soccer) Ohlone vs. Cañada

1:00pm - 4:00pm
Colts Field
 

(Women’s Soccer) Gavilan vs. Cañada

3:00pm - 6:00pm
Colts Field
 

(Men’s Basketball) Merritt vs. Cañada

5:30pm - 8:30pm
Building 1 Gym
 

Saturday, November 16

Finding sources using Library Databases!

11:00am - 12:00pm
 

Monday, November 18

Grand Canyon University Tabling

1:00pm - 3:00pm
The Grove (Building 5)
 

Intern-Club Council (ICC) Meetings

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Building 1, Room 214
 

APA Basics

5:00pm - 5:30pm
Library Classroom 9-312
 

Tuesday, November 19

Cañada Art Gallery Opening: “Bill Morales: Recent Works”

All Day
Building 9, Room 152, Art Gallery
 

Story Circle with Indigenous Students

1:00am - 2:00am
Cultural Center, Building 17, Room 107
 

International Wellness Fair

11:00am - 1:00pm
The Grove (Building 5)
 

Arts & Crafts with Student Life

11:00am - 12:00pm
Club House, Building 5, Room 350
 

Ruck N’ Walk

12:00pm - 12:30pm
Building 9, Room 151
 

AI and Library Research

12:10pm - 1:00pm
Library Classroom 9-312
 

Battle of the Bay International Trivia

1:30pm - 2:30pm
Club House, Building 5, Room 350
 

Scholarship Workshop

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Building 9, 2nd Floor (Writing Center)
 

Barcelona Fall 2025 Information Session #1

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Online

 

For disability-related accommodations, please email canvpss@smccd.edu or call (650) 306-3234.

Cañada Vice President of Student Services Finalist Candidates & Forums

 

Dear Cañada Community,

As you know, Cañada College is searching for a new permanent Vice President of Student Services. We are pleased to announce five finalists:

René Alvarez

René AlvarezDr. René Alvarez is a seasoned higher education administrator with over 12 years of experience, currently serving as the Dean of Academic Success and Student Equity at San José City College. He has been instrumental in driving transformative student services initiatives that have significantly improved outcomes for underserved and disproportionately impacted students. His leadership, characterized by a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism, has earned him multiple awards, including the 2024 ACCCA Award for Progress in Diversity, the SJECCD 2023 LGBTQ+ Inclusion Award, and the 2022 CAPED Administrator of the Year. His leadership extends to managing a $10 million budget, securing over $7 million in local, state, and federal grants.

Dr. Alvarez has served as faculty teaching courses on career development, and the intersection of race/ethnicity with the critical components of the criminal justice system. He is a published scholar on first-year experience instruction, trans student narratives, and at-risk student success.  The Journal of Applied Research in Community Colleges will publish Dr. Alvarez's practice brief on operationalizing campus equity in Fall 2024. He has also presented on topics such as systemic racism, student equity, and academic resilience at conferences nationwide. Additionally, Dr. Alvarez is deeply committed to community service, currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Bill Wilson Center, a leading provider of social services in the Bay Area.

Dr. Alvarez credits his Cuban heritage and first-generation experiences for shaping his academic and professional journey. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. He has also earned a Master of Education in Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Career and Workforce Education from the University of South Florida.
 

Sam Morgan

Sam MorganSam Morgan earned his B.A. from Washington State University and his M. Ed. in School Counseling from Central Washington University. Sam brings an empathetic, solution-focused, and equity minded approach to leadership. He has 12 years of community college experience, with six of those years serving in the capacity of a Student Services Dean. Mr. Morgan has actively led various campus-wide initiatives: Strategic Enrollment Management, Drop for Non-Payment, Retention and Completion Interventions, Managing Fraudulent Enrollment, and Satisfying Accreditation Standards. Additionally, he has a history of building effective partnerships with the K-12 system, social service agencies, and non-profit organizations. Mutually beneficial services in the community have included admission application workshops, financial aid and college access presentations, culturally relevant programming, expanding dual enrollment, and community-based ESL instruction. Collaborators have included public libraries, Catholic Charities, Goodwill, community centers, and places of worship. 

Sam currently serves as the Dean of Enrollment Services at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, CA. Outside of work, he enjoys running ultra-marathons, attending standup comedy shows, and traveling to visit family and friends.

Lizette Bricker

Lizette BrickerLizette Bricker (She/Her) has over 20 years of student services experience in K-12, community college and four-year university level. Most recently, her experience includes over 10 years in community college leadership and administration. She is currently serving as Vice President of Student Services at Ohlone College. Prior to Ohlone College, she served as Dean of Enrollment Services and Support Programs at College of San Mateo (CSM), and Acting Vice President of Student Services during the height of the pandemic. Prior to that Lizette’s other roles have included Interim Dean of Counseling and Program Supervisor for a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Title V grant at Cañada College. She also served as a High School Counselor at Desert Mirage High School, Adjunct Counselor for General Counseling, Disabled Student Program and Services, and EOPS at College of the Desert. She was also an English Adjunct Faculty, teaching English Composition, Writing and Literature both at College of the Desert and Brandman University. She began her career at CSU San Bernardino as a College Recruiter, and also worked for UC Riverside in their Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP). 

She’s been actively involved with the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) as a team leader for their Mentor Program. Through the Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, she was trained and participated as a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Coach. 

Lizette earned her BA from San Diego State University and her MA and MS from California State University, San Bernardino. She was born and raised in Indio, CA. Lizette is a proud Latinx, first-generation, community college transfer student. It was her participation in the EOPS program that was the foundation to realizing her educational goals, an experience that solidified her commitment to support programs and services at the community college level.      

Lizette is a mother of two, Lucas and Sofia, and is married to her partner, Chris. She enjoys good food, discovering new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.  She also has a passion for traveling, reading, music, dancing Ballet Folklorico and listening to podcasts.  
 

JP Bareng Schumacher

JP Bareng SchumacherJP Schumacher understands the power of California community colleges. When his family struggled financially, JP witnessed his mother’s return to higher education in her 40s via community college. Thanks to remarkable nursing and student services faculty and staff, JP’s mom graduated from the El Camino College registered nursing program. Their lives were forever positively changed. When he enrolled at El Camino, JP experienced how a community college can unlock powerful possibilities himself. 

JP received his associate degree in psychology from El Camino College, Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from UCLA, and Master of Public Administration degree from University of La Verne. He possesses fourteen years of progressively responsible administration experience- four years within the UC system and a decade at California community colleges- with titles including coordinator, director, dean, and vice president.

Possessing considerable student services management breadth, most of JP’s experience has focused on increasing equitable college access and success for minoritized populations. This focus is reflected in his proudest accomplishments: creating a Mana program to support Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, launching a Social Justice & Equity Center, and expanding DSPS services. JP recognizes those accomplishments were only possible through intentional collaboration with campus constituents and community members. 

JP is honored and excited to be considered for Vice President of Student Services at Cañada College. As a queer, multiracial individual with a disability, JP personally understands the importance of racial equity, humanity, and justice within education. Informed by this understanding, his leadership approach is collaborative and student-centered. He looks forward to applying this approach and forming partnerships with faculty, classified professionals, students, administrators, and the community to support student success at Cañada.

When he’s not working, JP spends time with his husband and rambunctious Labrador, listens to Final Fantasy VII Lo-fi music while reading, and gets his daily 10,000 steps in. JP has a penchant for discussions on critical student development theory while eating maple donuts, believing the combination to be potent.

JP’s journey reflects the transformative power of community colleges. He remains committed to ensuring that power remains easily accessible to the communities the colleges serve.
 

Luis Escobar

Luis EscobarDr. Luis Escobar has more than 18 years of experience in higher education in a wide range of positions including Classified Professional, Counseling faculty, Dean of Counseling and most recently as Acting Vice President of Student Services. In July, 2023, Dr. Escobar was selected as Acting Vice President of Student Services at Skyline College. As Acting Vice President of Student Services, Dr. Escobar collaboratively developed and executed a comprehensive strategic plan for Student Services that advances the college’s educational mission and priories with strategic focus on 1) access to proactive student engagement data 2) Implementing Anti-Racist Education practices 3) focus on promoting a thriving learning and work environment and 4) fiscal stability across Student Services. The following are some of the examples of the progress that has been made in executing the strategic vision:

  • Designed and implemented Anti-Racist Forum as part of strategy to implement practices across Student Services
  • In collaboration with Student Services Dean leadership team led development of multi-year strategy to implement Tableau Data dashboards that will fundamentally change how we are able to proactively engage and support students that most need the support to scale.
  • Successfully consolidated Student Services budget needs and secured multi-year funding support to bridge the gap.  

Dr. Escobar’s experience includes work in administration, counseling, and teaching at high school, community colleges, and graduate programs. Dr. Escobar has a wide range and depth of experience regarding fiscal management, strategic planning, vision development, leading equity and anti-racist efforts, program evaluation, outreach, training and supervision, student life and leadership, and in advancing program development and innovation to scale. His work as an educator has been anchored in striving for educational equity and critical consciousness. In doing this work Dr. Escobar relies on a culture grounded in trust, innovation, respect, open and honest communication, and strategic planning to collectively strive for equitable student success outcomes.

Dr. Escobar was a first-generation college student that earned his Associate Degree from Contra Costa College, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Masters of Science in Counseling, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Francisco State University. 


To ensure our campus hears from each finalist candidate, we will hold live in-person Forums November 12-15. Links to register for the in-person forums are below.

Date/Time

Finalist

Location

Forum Registration Link

Tuesday, November 12 from 2-3 p.m.

René Alvarez

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Wednesday, November 13 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Sam Morgan

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Thursday, November 14 from 2-3 p.m.

Lizette Bricker

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Friday, November 15 from 11 a.m. -12 p.m.

J.P. Schumacher

Building 13, Room 330

Register

Friday, November 15 from 2-3 p.m.

Luis Escobar

Building 13, Room 330

Register


 

 














While the forums will be conducted live in person, the questions for the candidates will be gathered in advance with the consultation of leadership from Student Senate, Classified Senate and Academic Senate.

All forums will be recorded and available for viewing after the live events. These recordings will be shared in a follow up campus wide email which will also include forms for you to share your feedback. The feedback forms will be live after each forum. The deadline to submit all feedback forms will be Monday, November 25, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Thank you in advance for your participation and feedback. We value your input.

What's Happening at Cañada: Week of November 11, 2024

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