As president of the South Orange County Community College District Trustee Board, I am proud to represent Saddleback College in Mission Viejo and, of course, Irvine Valley College (IVC) right here in Irvine…where I have lived and taught for decades.
Being a lifelong educator, I have always championed community colleges. They play a critical role in providing an affordable and accessible college education to students right in their own backyards.
Nearly half of all college students are enrolled at a community college, in part because our community colleges provide educational opportunities that many students would otherwise not be able to access. In addition, these community-focused institutions are essential in workforce development, vocational training, and the improvement of local economies.
A recent regional Economic Impact Study reported that IVC brought $738.4 million to our local economy in Fiscal Year 2023–24. The study also showed that the college has played a key role in equipping its alumni with an education that paves the way for higher-paying careers, benefiting thousands of individuals and contributing significantly to the region’s economic vitality.
IVC offers two-year associate degrees in over 70 majors in the liberal arts and sciences; business sciences; social sciences; and technologies. Students can complete general education and pre-major requirements for transfer to four-year colleges like UCI and Cal State Fullerton. Students can also train for a specific job by earning a certificate in one of IVC’s 60 career and technical programs.
This fall, the college received a $3 million investment from the Samueli Foundation to expand STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) transfer pathways and research opportunities for IVC students. This transformative support is helping to build a new Natural Science Center, fund research projects, and generally strengthen student support in STEM.
One of the things I love most about IVC is how the college successfully combines a small-college environment with more than 60 acres of modern facilities and equipment; dedicated staff; and an excellent faculty. I couldn’t be more proud to live in a city that is home to such a wonderful community college.
Beyond academics, I encourage my Irvine neighbors to join me in attending the multitude of theatrical, dance, and musical performances that are held at the college’s beautiful, state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center and the new IVC Arts Village. Ticket prices are modest but the talent is immense. For a list of upcoming events at IVC, click here.
And if you love watching local sports, check out the full list of athletic programs offered at IVC and the upcoming schedule of games by clicking here.
- IVC’s Positive Impact on Students & the Local Economy - November 12, 2025
- IVC Helps Veterans Succeed - November 28, 2024
- Community College Corner: Meet IVC Grad Seira Homma - June 10, 2024
