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.