NOCCCD Board President Dr. Barbara Dunsheath with Porto's Bakery VP Betty Porto at the California Community College Women's Caucus event "Celebrating Phenomenal Women" last week.

Since 1987, the U.S. government has recognized March as Women's History Month, a time to reflect on the extraordinary contributions of women throughout history and recognize their impact in shaping our world. The North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) embraces this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in academia, advocacy, and leadership while reaffirming our commitment to fostering gender equity in scholarship, research, and institutional culture.

According to the National Women's History Alliance (NWHA), the theme of National Women's History Month this year is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future." The theme, according to NWHA's website, "expands our understanding of sustainability beyond just environmental concerns. It encompasses financial sustainability, community resilience, leadership succession, and intergenerational equity. Whether developing green technologies, advancing economic justice, strengthening education systems, or building civic power — women are designing blueprints for sustainable transformation. This theme affirms that shaping a sustainable future means fostering systems that support both people and the planet."

The NWHA also publishes a yearly magazine to celebrate Women’s History Month and supplies a toolkit for faculty and community members to use for helping to design blueprints for sustainable transformation.

Fullerton College President Dr. Cynthia Olivo has been named the 67th Assembly District’s 2026 Woman of the Year. An honor recognized by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, this accolade speaks to Dr. Olivo’s exemplary leadership as she guides Fullerton College into growth, innovation and more.

Under Dr. Olivo’s leadership, Fullerton College has also completed five major capital construction projects in the past three years, including two new buildings, one historic building renovation, the district’s first solar panel installation and a new central chiller plant. Additional projects currently underway include a renovated softball field in 2027, the new Performing Arts Center scheduled for completion in 2028 and a new Vocational STEM building in development. 

She has elevated efforts in the college Student Equity Plan, establishing two new shared governance groups — the Hispanic Serving-Institution (HSI) Transformation Team and the North Star Committee — to guide the college’s work in improving equity-based practices and strengthening effectiveness as an HSI and emerging Black-Serving institution (BSI). She also implemented the African American Male Education Network and Development Charter Organization. 

Dr. Olivo also secured a $4 million-dollar Samueli grant to fund undergraduate research opportunities for transfer students in STEM and established a center to house other experiential learning opportunities such as fellowships and internships for students in every program.

Read the full article on the Fullerton College News Center

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At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) Board of Trustees met for a regularly scheduled meeting at the Anaheim Campus Board Room.