Contra Costa College                Department:  English

Local Experience: 

President and Lead Negotiator, United Faculty of Contra Costa Community College District; former English Department Chair; Prize-Winning Writing Professor.

Statewide Experience: 

Vice President, Bay Faculty Association; Active Member of FACCC and CCCI; good relationships with all my local state legislators.  Winner, FACCC’s 2009/10 Full-Time Faculty Member of the Year Award.

Education: 

Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Brandeis University (with a dissertation on the role stories play in political negotiations); BA in Comparative Literature from the American University in Paris.

Goals in Seeking FACCC Office: 

My main interest is in advocacy, in strengthening FACCC’s voice in Sacramento to renew California’s investment in education and to highlight the role community colleges play in strengthening our communities and our economy. 

I am also concerned about the resources being expended these days on accreditation issues and the SLO project.  My recent article in FACCCTS, “Accreditation Under Fire,” should give some insight into my take on those issues. 

I strongly support professionalizing part-time faculty; all professors deserve pay equity and job security, and we will never achieve the predominantly full-time staffs our students deserve so long as we allow districts to underpay and exploit part-timers. 

Lastly, I’d like to see FACCC continue to strengthen its relationships with other groups, from the unions (CFT, CTA and CCCI) to the statewide Student and Academic Senates, to the League and even local district trustees.  I am a good bridge builder, and I know I can contribute to this effort.