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Cliff Notes: SEPTEMBER 2022
The Fall semester has begun and although many of us have returned to campus, many continue to work remotely. During this time, Cliff Notes employee newsletter is still one way we can keep our campus community together. As usual, if there is news about your department that you would like to share in future issues (awards, recognitions, special lectures, presentations or events you are conducting on campus or via Zoom, etc.), let us know. You can send items of interest to marketing@sbcc.edu and include “Cliff Notes” in the subject line.
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The morning of Aug. 25 began with a virtual session (via Zoom) for all SBCC employees. After a welcome message from Interim Superintendent/President Kindred Murillo, we were given updates from Vice President of Academic Affairs María Villagómez, Vice President of Student Affairs Paloma Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of the SBCC Foundation Geoff Green and Interim Vice President of the School of Extended Learning Carola Smith.
Afterward, on the west campus lawn under bright blue skies, we were able to gather in-person for lunch, music, games and long-overdue face-to-face conversations with colleagues — many of whom we hadn’t seen in a long time.
Many thanks to Cristine Garcia Otero for for organizing the entire event, to Orin Fails and Luke Vranish for taking care of the technical aspects of the morning session and to everyone who assisted in making our All-Campus Kickoff a huge success.
Here’s to a successful Fall semester, everyone!
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BAMP mural: A visual celebration of the Black and African-American experience
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“Music is playing, the sun is shining and a group of artists and students are painting a colorful mural on a wall...” So began the KCLU public radio broadcast on Aug. 26, describing an event that featured the creation of a vibrant new mural on the Campus Center wall.
On Aug. 24, KCLU news reporter Caroline Feraday was on hand at the Umoja orientation, as artists from the Bay Area Mural Program (BAMP) worked together with Umoja students, their families and members of the Black Faculty and Staff Association to create a project celebrating the Black and African-American experience.
Calling it “a simple scene of joy,” Feraday noted that it provided an opportunity for students to come together and work on an art project in a way that hadn’t been possible during the past two years of the pandemic.
Although planning had been in the works for a couple of months, actual work on the project started when the BAMP artists arrived on Monday, Aug. 22, and continued throughout that week.
Now that the work has been completed, be sure to make your way over to the wall of Campus Center that faces the Humanities building to see this inspiring and beautiful work of art for yourself.
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| In the news: KEYT-TV covers the first day
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On the first day of Fall classes, KEYT-TV news reporter John Palminteri visited main campus, commenting on the atmosphere of enthusiasm and the increased enrollments over last year. Pointing out that 60 percent of the classes are hybrid, he talked with students about the opportunity to take classes either in-person or online. Most said they prefer in-person, but having the option for online classes for scheduling reasons was seen as a benefit to at least one of them. He said the students he spoke to were optimistic about their futures here at SBCC and beyond.
The college’s outreach efforts were credited getting students who were “stalled out or on the sidelines” to come back to campus, whether they want to pursue vocational training or have plans to transfer to a four-year institution.
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Bold banners with a message make their debut on campus
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As you come to main campus this semester, take a moment to notice the 112 newly-designed banners hanging from light poles throughout the east and west campuses. Displaying the “SBCC Stronger Together” logo, they provide a reminder of what we — as faculty, staff and students — can accomplish when we pull together, from meeting the challenge of a pandemic to achieving success and balance in our academic and personal lives. Big thanks to the Office of Communications and the Facilities team!
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Newest class of the SBCC Vaqueros Hall of Fame announced
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The SBCC Athletics Department is proud to announce the newest class of the SBCC Vaqueros Hall of Fame, which were honored alongside the 2020 and 2021 Vaquero Hall of Fame inductees at the SBCC football season opener on Sept. 3 against Allan Hancock College.
Read about this year’s inductees.
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Emma Trelles (photo by Regina Reese)
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Emma Trelles receives Academy of American Poets fellowship
In 2021, composition and creative writing instructor Emma Trelles was named Poet Laureate for the City of Santa Barbara. This year, Emma was selected as one of 22 poets in the United States to be recognized by the Academy of American Poets with a prestigious Poet Laureate Fellowship. As a Poet Laureate Fellow, Trelles will receive a $50,000 stipend to support her public work and craft. Read more in:
Noozhawk
S.B. Independent
S.B. News Press
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Sally Saenger: Passion for fitness
Physical Education instructor Sally Saenger is back in the news. This time it was a story in the Santa Barbara Independent’s 2022 Active Aging Guide, calling her “a great role model.” In addition to teaching both credit and noncredit classes, Sally is also now teaching for Senior Planet — a program created and sponsored by the national nonprofit Older Adults Technology Services (OATS). Would you like to know some of Sally's top tips for getting and staying in shape?
Read the story.
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Dr. Hector Gamero
Engineering
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Hassine Letaief
Computer Science
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Michele Obritz
Disability Services and Programs for Students
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Timothy Palmer
Construction Technology
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Lynette Williamson
Health Information Technology/ Cancer Information Management
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Christina Llerena to serve as Interim Dean, Student Affairs
Christina Llerena has been selected to fill the position of Interim Dean, Student Affairs. Many of you already know Christina as the Director of EOPS. In addition to her leadership experience in EOPS, Christina also brings her extensive experience in academic counseling, program leadership and a strong passion for serving students. Christina will be in this position until the permanent Dean position is filled later this fall.
Congratulations Christina and thank you for filling this important role!
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Longevity RecognitionsEach month the college recognizes the longevity and dedication of our employees and the impact that those employees have on students, the institution and the culture of excellence at Santa Barbara City College. At the August 18 Board meeting, the following employees were recognized:
Fabiola Hernandez, Teacher, Preschool — 15 years
Nancy Keller, Admissions and Records Technician —20 years
Brian Moreno, Administrative Assistant II —10 years
Dean Nevins, Executive Director, IT —25 years
Pablo Ochoa, Bookstore Assistant —10 years
Elisabeth Rizo, Director, Children’s Center —15 years
James Watson, Laboratory Teaching Assistant —15 years
Ruberta Yescas, Accounting Technician III —15 years
That makes a total of 125 years of service to SBCC. Well done and thank you!
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Cosmetology Program ranked among the best in California
“Best Universities” recently issued their report on the top Cosmetology schools in California, ranking the program at SBCC at No. 5. Known for delivering comprehensive and up-to-date lists of college rankings, Best Universities noted that the SBCC program is highly competitive and that upon graduation, students will be well-trained creative professionals with the fundamental skills needed to pass the California State Board licensing exam. Read more...
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Webmaster Hong Lieu and and Senior Admissions Tech Akil Hill
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Continuing their casual, informal conversations with colleagues, Hong and Akil got together in August with Communications professor Carrie Hutchinson and Vice President of Academic Affairs Maria Villagómez to talk about school, food, music and culture. Check out current and past episodes here...
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When Akil and Hong welcomed Carrie to the show, talk began with a discussion of the Communication department at SBCC and how the discipline has evolved in the digital age. She also set the record straight that the discipline is “communication” without an “s” at the end!
They later segued to food and culture topics. Chili cheese fries, cookies, survival shows and 80s music all got covered in the process!
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The new Vice President of Academic Affairs María Villagómez was the guest for episode 34. After describing the areas of responsibility for this new postition the conversation moved on to what brought Maria to SBCC from the Napa Valley College. In the process, the trio discussed Jelly Belly, quesabirria, pastrami sandwiches, dutch crunch bread, Don Quixote, Joe Strummer and the new UMOJA mural painted by the Bay Area Mural Project.
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Check out what’s new at the CLRC
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Located in the same building as the Luria Library on west campus, the Cartwright Learning Resource Center (CLRC) is a place you’ll want to make sure students know about. Providing space to work quietly alone or in groups, and for students and tutors to meet, the CLRC also has printers, scanners and desktop computers with large monitors integrated throughout. It is where students will find the Writing Center, computer tutors and the Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) labs.
During the summer intersession, staff were hard at work making renovations, including:
- a new, more spacious floor plan.
- more places to charge devices — including the patio.
- a series of collaborative art installations featuring work by Transitions students, student veterans and students and staff from the CLRC.
- a small food pantry from the Basic Needs Center with snacks and shelf-stable offerings.
- decor that improves the comfort, look and acoustics of the space.
Stay tuned for more information about the new art installations mentioned above in next month’s issue of Cliff Notes (October).
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STEM Day Sept. 14The MESA/STEM Transfer Program, in collaboration with STEM faculty, is sponsoring STEM Day on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The purpose of STEM Day is to reengage students and bring them back to campus for a face-to-face opportunity. On that day, STEM related faculty, clubs and counselors will be available to answer students’ questions. There will also be science demonstrations, games and food. Faculty are encouraged to invite both their online and in-person STEM students to come and see the STEM department and clubs in action.
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SBCC Music concerts in Sept.Monday Madness at SOhO, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. This 18-piece band is under the direction of Andrew Martinez. The cover charge is $15 at the door. SOhO Restaurant and Music Club is located at 1221 State Street.
Applied Music Recital #1, Sept. 30,12:30 p.m. SBCC Applied Music students will perform the first of three recitals for the semester in DM 101. Free admission.
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The Theatre Group at SBCC presents ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’
Oct.14-29, previews Oct. 12 and 13, Garvin Theatre
You won’t want to miss this award-winning comedy that is part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes. Set in the 1920s on the opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” things quickly go from bad to utterly disastrous. An unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead and actors who trip over everything don’t stop the accident-prone thespians as they battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call.
For more information and tickets...
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Bob Kirby, who taught in SBCC’s Marine Diving Technology program, passed away on June 2, 2022, at his home in Carpinteria.
As a diver in the U.S. Navy in the 1950s, Bob realized the diving masks supplied by the Navy were inadequate and started building his own masks, selling them to the abalone divers he dived with on weekends.
On leaving the Navy, Bob went into abalone diving in Santa Barbara, then into oilfield and construction diving. In 1963 he used his skills as a metalsmith to design a mixed-gas recirculating diving helmet with a small team of colleagues at Associated Divers. Bob’s helmet design was a major factor in the successful expansion of deep water mixed-gas diving that flourished in Santa Barbara in the early 1960s, and gradually spread around the globe.
Known as an “honorable, ethical, and immensely talented diver and educator, whose name will live on as long as there are professional divers working in the world’s oceans,” Bob will be missed by all those who knew him.
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