I am honored to continue to serve as the president of the Western Region Council on Black American Affairs. Now more than ever our mission to improve educational and professional development opportunities for Black American faculty, staff, and administrators is needed. I hope you will join me in the work ahead.
As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic we are all faced with addressing the devastating and disproportionate impact it has had on our Black students and the Black community. We have all been challenged to go above and beyond both personally and professionally to brave these circumstances and come out whole. Keep up the good work you have been doing to ensure our Black students do not come out of this pandemic even further behind than they were when it started.
One thing that we learned from the pandemic and the George Floyd murder is that we must continue to identify and fight injustice within our institutions. I urge you to identify even one structural injustice or inequity that impacts Black students at your college and develop strategies to address the inequity identified.
As an organization, we have increased our visibility in our region by collaborating with like-minded organizations to provide professional development opportunities to increase the numbers of African Americans in all areas of the community college. This is happening within California, the region, and across the country. One such collaboration occurred with the three AACC councils, NAPIC, NCCHC and NCBAA, “Leaders of Color Creating Equity-Centered Systems During Challenging Times” This virtual conference was held on October 11, 14 and November 3. In California a few of the Black Chief Instructional officers (CIO), including Dr. Tammy Robinson and myself, developed the African American Leadership Institute (AAL) that launched earlier this year. This series of workshops included presentations by Black Chancellors and presidents. Additionally, the ALIVE Dean’s institute was launched as a year-long professional development institute with a strong mentoring component.
In October the Black Education Association (BEA) and The Village Demands (TVD) collaborated on a student focused virtual conference. I am excited to announce that the WRCBAA annual conference will be held in March 2022. Details will be posted on our website as soon as they are available so please check back. I hope you will attend, I miss seeing you!!
As you confront the many challenges of returning to face to face instruction and continue to surmount them through your great work, please remember to reach out when you are able in support of our Haitian communities, friends and family in Haiti.
The Virtual WRCBAA Spring 2022 Regional Conference is scheduled for March 18-19, 2022. This year’s conference theme is Remembering Sankofa: Striving for Greatness in a New Dawn.
For more information and to register for the conference, please visit the WRCBAA website at http://lnc.a47.myftpupload.com/regional-conference/
Cañada College will hosts its first Black and Brown Career Excellence Summit on February 24 and February 25, 2022.
You may register for the event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-brown-excellence-summit-tickets-194624817067.
On Friday, October 15, 2021, Chabot College’s Black Education Association and Black Cultural Resource Center hosted their Annual Student Conference. This year’s theme focused on student’s experiences transitioning from community college to four-year institutions.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Joel Powell, motivated and inspired African American students across the California Community College System. Following the exciting and uplifting keynote address, students had the opportunity to attend an engaging panel led by their peers addressing their educational journey in navigating the system of higher education.
The conference wrapped up with a networking session which allowed students to connect with peers across the system.
Dr. Tammy Robinson has been announced as the next President of the National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA).
The National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA) is a council of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The NCBAA serves as a collaborative voice, promoting the academic success of African American students, faculty, staff and administrators. NCBAA’s national council is a driving force in the advocacy of equal accessibility to college for members of the black community.
Dr. Tammy Robinson serves as the Vice President of Instruction at Cañada College in Redwood City, California. Prior to this position, she served as the Dean of Global Learning Programs and Services and Dean for Social Science and Creative Arts at Skyline College in San Bruno, California. She also served as interim Vice President of Academic Services Services/Athletic Director/CIO at Lassen Community College in Susanville, California. She was also the Department Chair of English/ESL/Linguistics Department at Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles California.
Jamillah Moore, Ed.D., has been named Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at San Francisco State University.
Prior to joining SFSU, Dr. Moore served as the President of Cañada College in Redwood City. Previously, Dr. Moore served as Vice-Chancellor of Educational Services and Planning at the San Mateo Community College District, Chancellor of the Ventura Community College District, President of Los Angeles City College, Interim Superintendent President of Compton Community College and Senior Vice Chancellor for Governmental and External Relations for the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. She spent a decade as a legislative staffer and policy analyst in the California State Senate and is a former director of Governmental Relations for the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
A native Californian, Dr. Moore holds two degrees from California State University, Sacramento: a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s degree in Intercultural Communication and Public Policy. She also earned a doctorate from the University of San Francisco in International and Multicultural Education.
Sean Brooks was recently named Vice President of Administrative Services at Berkeley City College.
Mr. Brooks most recently worked for San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transportation District (SF BART), where he provided administrative leadership and oversight of all transit-oriented development projects, real estate interests, and led facilities expansion efforts. Prior to SF BART, Mr. Brooks held Economic Development senior roles at the City of Redwood City, City of Hayward, and the City of Brea for community development and partnerships.
Dr. Jamal Cooks has been appointed Interim Vice President of Academic Services at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. Prior to taking on the Vice President role, Dr. Cooks served as Dean of Language Arts at Chabot, where he successfully implemented AB 705 procedures and policies, co-founded the Chabot Association of Teacher Education (CATE) as a pathway to careers in education working with colleges, and served as the administrator for the RISE Program, a student support program for formerly incarcerated students.
Dr. Cooks is an active participant in the Association of California Community College Administration (ACCCA), a graduate of the Great Deans and the Mentor programs, the President of the Black Education Association (BEA) for Northern California, and the Marian Schivers Scholarship Award winner in the Carolyn Grubbs Williams Leadership Development Institute (LDI) sponsored by the National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA).
Prior to community college administration, Dr. Cooks served as a full professor at San Francisco State University, and as the Associate Director for the Educational Leadership doctoral program.
Originally from Oakland, CA., Dr. Cooks has a doctorate in Language, Literacy, and Culture and an M.A. in Curriculum Development from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy of Industrial Societies from the University of California at Berkeley.
Dr. Ajani M. Byrd has been named Chief Diversity Officer & Dean of Institutional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Foothill College, Los Altos, CA.
Prior to accepting the position of Chief Diversity Officer & Dean of Institutional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Foothill College, Dr. Byrd served in a variety of roles within the West Valley-Mission Community College District including Acting Dean of Student Equity and Success at West Valley College where he provided leadership and oversight over nine student success units and learning communities.
Dr. Byrd previously served as the Interim Dean of Language Arts and Director of Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) at Mission College. Prior to Mission College, Dr. Byrd served as a post-doctorate fellow at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office where he gained extensive experiences evaluating Student Equity and Achievement programming, evaluating Inmate and Re-Entry Education practices, and launching statewide initiatives focusing on student food and housing security.
Dr. Byrd received his Doctorate of Philosophy in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago, Master of Arts in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco, and Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University.
Ree’shemah Thornton joined Merritt College in April 2021 in the inaugural role of the Dean of Enrollment Services.
Before joining Merritt College, Ms. Thornton worked at Holy Names University, where she was the Assistant Vice President for Admissions and Student Recruitment. Prior to that, Ms. Thornton was the Interim Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at San Francisco State University, where she provided leadership for the enrollment management units including Undergraduate Admissions, Student Outreach Services, Registrar’s Office, Student Financial Aid, Educational Opportunity Program, and Enrollment Management Technology. She has also served in various capacities at the University of California, Office of the President, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Alan Hancock Community College.
Ms. Thornton holds a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Human Development, from the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in both Law and Society and Black Studies, from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
After serving for over 25 years in higher education, Dr. Stacy Thompson has retired. Throughout her career she has supported students of color to reach their educational goals and mentored faculty, staff, and administrators who wish to advance their careers in the community college setting.
Dr. Thompson started her career in higher education teaching Early Childhood Development at Merritt College in Oakland, CA. After ten years in the classroom, she became the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Merritt College. Dr. Thompson served as the Vice President of Academic Services at Chabot College in Hayward, CA for over seven years.
Dr. Thompson is the president of Western Region Council on Black American Affairs (WRBCAA); VP of Programs for the National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA), and is a founding member of the Black Education Association (BEA) at Chabot College. As an active member of the higher education community at the state level, she served on the Chief Instructional Officer (CIO) Executive Committee and on the California Community Colleges Athletic Association (CCCAA).
She has demonstrated commitment to increasing the number of African Americans in community college leadership though her work with the African American Leadership Institute, ALIVE (Leadership Institute for Aspiring Chief Instructional Officers), and Leadership Development Institute (National Council on Black American Affairs.)
Dr. Thompson plans to continue mentoring people of color and women by providing professional development opportunities through the creation of a consulting company, Strategic Transitions Consulting. She is also working with a group of innovative women to start a non-profit community-based organization that will provide housing, education, and essential resources to formerly incarcerated women in Oakland.
Carlotta Campbell, College of Alameda emeritus Communication Faculty and Department Chair, passed on Monday, May 10, 2021.
Prior to joining the faculty ranks of College of Alameda, Ms. Campbell was a popular radio broadcaster and reporter. She joined College of Alameda as a Communication faculty member in 2004 and retired in 2015. Ms. Campbell was a committed campus leader who served on countless college, district, and state committees. Her service as the College of Alameda’s Academic Senate President, Department Chair for Communication/Humanities/Philosophy, and Faculty Coordinator for several Black History Month programs was exemplary.
Ms. Campbell was instrumental in creating the first Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) degree. Most notable, the Communication AA-T degree created at College of Alameda was accepted, without rejection, at all California State Universities. Ms. Campbell represented the college statewide on the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Student Outcomes and Learning Committee, and she frequently participated as a speaker at ASCCC institutes and events.
Dr. Stacy Thompson – President
Dr. Tammy R. Robinson – Vice President of Development
Dr. Jamal Cooks – Vice President of Programs
Dr. Tasha Smith – Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations
Dr. LaTonya Williams – Vice President of Membership
Mr. Brandon Christian – Vice President of Technology
Ms. Doris Hankins– Secretary
Ms. Debbie Trigg – Treasurer
Dr. Joel Powell – Parliamentarian
Ms. Michelle Word – Executive Director
The Western Region Newsletter is published twice a year. We invite you to send articles, updates, photos, and other items of interest to Dr. Tasha Smith, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations:
Articles must be sent electronically in a Microsoft Word or .doc document.
Photos must be sent in a .jpg, .png or .tif format at 300 dpi.
Please do not send PDF documents.
The deadline to submit material for the Spring/Summer 2022 WRCBAA newsletter is March 25, 2022.
©2020 National Council on Black American Affairs: Western Region. All rights reserved.
