NOVEMBER 2020 citruscollege.edu

CITRUSLATEST NEWS FROM CITRUSVIEW COLLEGE

Fall brings Citrus College welcomes new trustee exciting changes The Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees welcomed its newest member, Anthony Contreras, Ed.D., to his first full board meeting on Oct. 20. Dr. Contreras assumes the seat formerly held by Dr. Barbara R. Dickerson and will represent trustee area 1, which includes Azusa and portions of Duarte, through Dec. 9, 2022. “As a former Citrus College student, this institution holds a special place in my heart,” Dr. Contreras said. “I am honored to receive this appointment, and I look forward to continuing to devote my energy to furthering the educational opportunities for my community.”

Change can be a wonderful thing. At no time Dr. Contreras attended Citrus College before Dr. Contreras represents trustee area 1 for the Citrus Community College District, which includes Azusa and is this more evident than when one season earning a bachelor’s degree in business portions of Duarte. transitions to the next. As summer turns administration, with an emphasis in finance, from the University of Southern He has worked for the Azusa Unified School into fall, the weather grows cooler, the days District (AUSD) for more than 30 years, become shorter and the leaves turn a vibrant (USC); a master’s degree in cross-cultural education from National University; and a including six years as an administrator. array of colors. And now, with winter right Additionally, Dr. Contreras has served as around the corner, the future feels both exciting doctorate in education, specializing in teacher education in multicultural societies, from USC. principal at Center Middle School for the and full of opportunity. last three years. “His public service, leadership and dedication Fall 2020 at Citrus College has definitely been During his tenure at AUSD, Dr. Contreras was full of change. From starting the academic year to the Azusa community is commendable,” said Dr. Geraldine M. Perri, superintendent/ named teacher of the year twice and received in a remote learning environment to welcoming the “Teacher Honor Excellence” award three a new member of the board of trustees, many president of Citrus College. “I congratulate him on his appointment, and I look forward to times. In 2017, he was named secondary co- new and exciting developments have taken administrator of the year by the Association of place – and many more are on the horizon! working with him to advance student success at Citrus College.” California School Administrators. This issue of Citrus View highlights a few of “On behalf of the board of trustees, I the changes that have occurred this semester. congratulate Dr. Contreras and welcome him Each article serves as an affirmation that Citrus to our governing body,” said Dr. Patricia A. College is always evolving and moving forward. Rasmussen, president of the Citrus Community In the remaining weeks of the fall 2020 College District Board of Trustees. “His semester, the college community will continue enthusiasm and passion for helping students working together to help students reach their perfectly aligns with the college’s mission, academic and professional goals. While many vision and values.” things may change, the collaborative spirit of Citrus College will always stay the same. Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D. Superintendent/President Dr. Contreras provides a report at his first virtual board of trustees meeting on Oct. 20.

The Citrus College campus is currently closed. Faculty and staff are working remotely. Visit www.citruscollege.edu/covid19 and follow the college’s social media accounts for more information. Collaboration allows students in essential programs to return to campus

In July, the Los Angeles County registered dental assistant (RDA) Department of Public Health informed programs were able to meet on campus Citrus College that it could resume and resume their coursework. Since in-person classes that are connected to returning to campus, RDA students specific essential workforce sectors. have completed all requirements, with Faculty, staff and administrators the exception of patient cleanings. worked tirelessly to create and update Automotive technology and medium and plans to return to campus based on heavy diesel truck technology students current health and safety guidelines. were also welcomed back to campus to Careful consideration and effort was complete essential lab work. put into these detailed plans, including Additionally, deans, directors, supervisors diagramming classroom workflows, so and classified staff from other divisions that students and faculty could keep at have volunteered to assist with least 6 feet of distance from each other. checking students in at designated “Faculty and staff in both the college’s parking lot entrances. This process natural, physical and health sciences has become even more efficient with division and the career, technical and the implementation of the health and continuing education division drafted wellness module in the Citrus Mobile app numerous plans to get our students (see story on page 3). Maintenance and back to campus,” said Michael Wangler, operations staff clean and disinfect all dean of career, technical and continuing areas daily. education. “With input from the “It was a college-wide effort, and I am COVID-19 Workgroup and colleagues appreciative of everyone’s hard work throughout the state, everyone has and support,” said Dr. Eric Rabitoy, worked hard to ensure quality instruction dean of natural, physical and health in a safe environment.” sciences. “Navigating this new reality By Aug. 24, students in the certified was challenging for all of us at times, but it was all worth it to be able to welcome Dental (top) and automotive (bottom) students returned to campus to complete nurse assistant, registered nurse and essential lab work. some of our students back to campus.”

Honors student, future doctor wins Comevo scholarship Matthew Vinciguerra is a Citrus College biology without it,” he said. “Same goes for the Doctors major, president of the Doctors of Tomorrow of Tomorrow Club, which has guided me in my Club and an honors transfer program student. pathway to wanting to become a doctor.” He was also recently awarded a $1,000 Citrus College Counselor Raquel Gutierrez, scholarship from Comevo, Inc. who met with Matthew for academic A software company that streamlines counseling, said, “He is very determined and communication, Comevo manages the not afraid to work hard to achieve his goal.” college’s new online student orientation In order to get more experience in the medical system. This is Comevo’s sixth year of providing field, he actively sought out volunteer hours scholarships to help support the success of in a clinical setting. students in higher education. “Matthew is always so friendly and personable, There were almost 500 applicants for the ready to get his hands dirty in the lab,” added competitive scholarship, and Matthew was one Dr. June Han, biology instructor and advisor of only six recipients. He can use the $1,000 to the Doctors of Tomorrow Club. “Matthew is scholarship for class fees, books and supplies. the type of student who would go up after or “I was notified of the scholarship through the before class and talk with the professor or ask honors transfer program,” said Matthew. “I follow-up questions. He’s very dedicated to could always use help paying for school since I becoming a doctor.” pay for everything myself.” Matthew is planning on transferring to the Matthew highly recommends the honors , Irvine, in fall 2022 transfer program: “It’s a very helpful program, to study neurobiology. His goal is to attend and I don’t know what I would have done medical school in order to become a neurologist. Matthew recently won a scholarship from Comevo.

2 CITRUSVIEW Safe return to Dozens of universities campus with the represented at Virtual Citrus Mobile app Transfer Fair Although the physical Citrus College campus remains closed to the public, students and faculty in classes related to specific essential workforce sectors, as well as some essential personnel, are being allowed on campus. Thanks to leadership from the technology and computer services office and the COVID-19 Workgroup, the college has implemented a new health and wellness module in the Citrus Mobile app. This feature allows the college to easily comply with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) requirements for health assessments and contact tracing. An alternative web-based pre-screening survey is also available online for those without the app who wish to complete and print a health pass.

Staff from the Citrus College Career/Transfer Center were available during the Virtual Transfer Fair to answer student questions via Zoom. Pictured: Maria LeDuc, educational advisor (top left); Jessica López Jiménez, director of student support services (top right); Heather Hendrickson, secretary (bottom left); and Raquel Gutierrez, counselor (bottom right). Every year, the Citrus College Career/ link to the university’s website and a link Transfer Center hosts a Transfer Fair in the to a virtual campus tour (if available). fall that enables students to meet with The fair was separated into three representatives from a variety of colleges 50-minute sessions, with each including and universities. a welcome, a presentation and a Q&A

If your contract tracing survey answers in the app indicate that you are Despite the closure of campus, this year session. healthy, you will be given a “health pass.” was no exception. Staff from the Career/Transfer Center The health and wellness module has been in use since Using Zoom, Career Transfer/Center were also available via Zoom to answer early October and includes two steps for users: staff were able to connect more than questions. 1. Before arriving to campus, individuals complete 300 students with 59 representatives “Based on the survey responses, students the pre-screening health survey in the app, which from a variety of institutions, such as felt that participating in the fair increased consists of six simple, multiple-choice questions the University of California, Berkeley; their knowledge about what is needed to regarding current health status. If an individual the University of California, Los Angeles; transfer to a university, and they are able is determined to be healthy based on the self- California State Polytechnic University, to use the information they learned in assessment, they are given a “health pass” (similar Pomona; California State University, their overall transfer planning,” Ms. López to a boarding pass) that can be shown to campus Fullerton; ; the Jiménez said. safety or other authorized staff, indicating that they ; and more. are permitted to be on campus. The Virtual Transfer Fair is another “Each university representative had their example of the college community’s 2. While on campus, individuals use the app to check own Zoom room where they hosted a dedication to student success, said in at their various locations by scanning the QR short presentation and Q&A session,” Superintendent/President Perri: codes that are posted at building and classroom explained Jessica López Jiménez, director entrances. of student support services. “Students “Faculty and staff have invested had the opportunity to get their questions significant time and effort into keeping “We were eager to utilize our existing technology in order answered about admission, majors, Citrus College virtually open. I continue to help us be compliant with Public Health mandates,” campus life and more.” to be impressed by the innovative and said Bob Hughes, chief information services officer. “The creative ways that the college community goal is to make it as easy as possible for students, faculty According to Ms. López Jiménez, students is working to meet student needs and staff to safely return to campus.” accessed Zoom by visiting a website during these unprecedented times. I created specifically for the event. For more information on downloading the extend my sincere thanks to the Career/ Citrus Mobile app, step-by-step instructions and the After scrolling through a list of universities, Transfer Center team for creating such a alternative web-based pre-screening survey, visit students clicked on the schools they were successful event.” www.citruscollege.edu/tecs/pages/safereturn. interested in and located the Zoom link, a

NOVEMBER2020 3 Citrus College welcomes new associate director of fiscal services Last month, Marie Noriega became the newest served three years as the supervisor of budget member of the Citrus College Fiscal Services and accounting for the same institution. Department. As the associate director of fiscal She previously spent an additional 12 years services, she will be responsible for managing in a variety of accounting positions within and performing a variety of duties related to elementary school districts. budget and accounting. Ms. Noriega holds an associate degree in “I am so excited to join the college community, accounting from the San José-Evergreen and I am eager to get to know my colleagues,” Community College District and a bachelor’s said Ms. Noriega. “Citrus College has a long degree in business studies and accounting history of fiscal responsibility, and I look from Southern New Hampshire University. forward to helping the college continue to “We are thrilled to welcome Marie to the prudently manage its resources.” fiscal services team,” said Claudette Dain, With 15 years of progressive accounting vice president of finance and administrative experience, Ms. Noriega is well-equipped services. “Her familiarity with the California for her new role. Before coming to Citrus community colleges system and extensive College, she served as the interim director of knowledge of accounting make her an business services at Gavilan Joint Community excellent candidate for this role at Citrus Ms. Noriega began working in the Citrus College Fiscal College District. Prior to this role, she also College.” Services Department in late October.

Online database now features Citrus Community College archived Clarion editions District Board of Trustees More than 1,000 issues of Citrus College’s student Dr. Patricia A. Rasmussen newspaper have been archived online, thanks to President a collaboration between faculty and staff of the Glendora and portions college’s journalism program, Hayden Memorial of San Dimas Representative Library and the Citrus College Foundation. Mrs. Susan M. Keith The project began during spring 2018 when Vice President Patrick Schmiedt, journalism instructor, Claremont and portions approached Sarah Bosler, public services of Pomona and La Verne librarian, with the idea of digitizing the archived Representative print copies of the Clarion. Mrs. Joanne Montgomery Together, they applied for a College of Completion Clerk/Secretary Innovation Grant from the Foundation. When Monrovia/Bradbury and portions they received the grant a few months later, of Duarte Representative Mr. Schmiedt and Ms. Bosler selected vendors to digitize and host the collection. Dr. Edward C. Ortell Member “Adjunct librarian Sandy Krause worked with four Duarte and portions of Azusa, other part-time librarians and a student worker to Monrovia, Arcadia, Covina and compile a complete inventory of the newspaper Irwindale Representative archive from both the library’s collection and Dr. Anthony Contreras the journalism program’s collection,” Ms. Bosler More than 50 years of the college’s student newspaper can be found in the California Digital Newspaper Database. explained. “Librarians created a spreadsheet and Member In September 2020, the archive went live Azusa and portions counted everything, making notes of missing of Duarte Representative issues and pages, as well as problems, like brittle at https://libguides.citruscollege.edu/ paper. They then boxed up the best copies of az.php?a=c&t=14715. Mr. Austin Riggs the newspapers and mailed them off for high- Visitors to the website can search issues of the Student Trustee resolution scanning.” Clarion published from 1964 through 2018. According to Ms. Bosler, a total of 9,461 pages “It is very exciting that the Citrus College Dr. Geraldine M. Perri (or 1,031 issues) were sent to Backstage Library Clarion archives are now available online,” said Superintendent/President Works in December 2018 for scanning. Superintendent/President Perri. “This project has This process was completed in April 2019, at provided the college community and the public which point the Foundation awarded a second with direct access to 50 years of institutional and grant that enabled the team to complete the local history, told from the student perspective. archiving process with the California Digital The online archive will undoubtedly be a valuable citruscollege.edu Newspaper Collection. resource for many student journalists.”

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