Weekly News Brief | September 29, 2023
From the Office of Chancellor Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D.

This is certainly a busy time of the Fall semester. There has particularly been a pickup in events, training sessions, and conferences. We missed last week's News Brief because I and a large group of your colleagues were attending the California Community Colleges DEIA Institute here in Southern California. There will be much more to say about the institute, and how it will influence our DEIA work, once the attendees have had a chance to meet and share lessons learned. I look forward to what actions flow from those conversations.

I'm also thrilled we had a chance yesterday to celebrate the Museum of Teaching and Learning exhibit, A Class Action: The Grassroots Struggle for School Desegregation in California, with members and descendants of the families involved alongside Westminster School District and educational partners countywide. It says something about how close this history is to all of us that there are still those among us who have first-hand knowledge of school segregation being the law of the land in California. It also reminds me that there is still much work to do in DEIA as was highlighted at the institute last week. I find it humbling to ponder the judgement of future historians on some of our current discussions and decisions surrounding inclusion and equity.

To conclude on a high note, I want to thank everyone for the accolades and accomplishments shared with the Board of Trustees last Wednesday. In the report, over dozens of pages, we saw individual and group examples of excellence. The Board relishes this yearly report, and their opportunity to celebrate alongside our students, faculty, classified and confidential professionals, and managers.

Thanks again to all as we barrel towards the midpoint of this term and the holidays ahead.

With gratitude,

 Whitney

Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D.
Chancellor

Acting VC Human Resources, Ryan Cox

Ryan Cox joined the Coast Community College District as Acting Vice Chancellor of Human Resources on September 15. Ryan retired from the Los Rios Community College District in 2019, where he served as the Chief HR officer at Feather River College for 10 years and Director of Human Resources at Feather River College for seven years. He is a retired Naval Flight Officer and Mission Commander in the US Navy and brings the experience of being a faculty member at the University of Mississippi and an Instructional Dean at Cosumnes River College in the Los Rios District prior to his work in HR. He received his Bachelor's degree in Business Economics from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA from the University of Mississippi. Ryan has extensive experience in Interest-Based Bargaining and a passion for developing and diversifying work forces.

Chancellor Yamamura says, "I consider us fortunate to be able to lure him out of retirement. Ryan is a consummate professional and an expert in his field."

Please join us in welcoming Ryan to the Coast District!