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Cliff Notes: July 2020During this time of working from home and social distancing, Cliff Notes is one way we can keep our campus community together. How are you coping with social distancing? Send us your story! Is there news about your department that you would like to share? Awards, recognitions, tips for connecting with students and colleagues online, special lectures, presentations or events you are conducting via Zoom? 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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Do you know of someone or a department you’d like to recognize for going above and beyond? If so, we’d love to share it. Just send an email to marketing@sbcc and include Cliff Notes in the subject line.
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Orin Fails, Technical Services Specialist
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2020 Classified Employee of the YearKnown for an attitude that “nothing is too big or too small for him to tackle,” Orin Fails was selected as the 2020 Classified Employee of the Year. Charged with handling IT support for the majority of campus events, he does it all — from setting up microphones, sound systems, cameras, computers, projectors and Zoom meetings — to building monitors and more. For anything technology related, the entire campus can rely on him to get it done, from well-planned events to sudden emergencies. He is prompt, efficient, professional, and one of the great problem-solvers on campus. In addition, Orin treats everyone — students, staff, faculty, administrators and community members — with the utmost respect and dignity. His devotion to SBCC is admirable. Congratulations, Orin. Well deserved!
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Cristina Garcia Otero
Cristina is an Administrative Assistant II in Educational Programs. Known as a hard worker, determined and self-motivated, she inspires others with her willingness to help on any number of projects. Almost single-handedly, she contributes to main events at SBCC, such as the In-Service for faculty and staff, the department chair workshop, and the orientation for new faculty. She assists with FLEX, Curriculum, Academic Calendar, and serves on the BPAP committee as well. Thank you for everything, Cristina!
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Diego RamirezDiego works in the Physical Education Department. He is able to take ideas and bring them to life, creating useful projects that would otherwise never have happened. Because of his skills and expertise, the department has been able to upgrade many of the older paper and pencil activities to have a more accessible, flexible, online format. During the quarantine, Diego was an important resource to both students and faculty in assisting the department to develop a virtual Life Fitness Center (LFC). Well done, Diego!
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Lidiana Saldana
Lidiana works in the front office at the Wake Campus as an Admissions Specialist. She is friendly, smart, has a good sense of humor and a positive attitude toward students and faculty. During the stay-at-home mandate, she has become the person staff turn to when in need of assistance. A big believer in lifelong learning, she recently received the Career Skills Institute Equity certificate. We are lucky to have you, Lidiana!
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Noel Gomez
Noel is a Student Program Advisor in the EOPS Department and the Coordinator of the Transitions Summer-Bridge Program. He offers valuable input to SBCC administrators while advocating for the most vulnerable and marginalized student population on campus: formerly incarcerated students. He was instrumental in designing and implementing the Transitions Program at SBCC in 2008, which was one of the first community college re-entry programs for students on parole and probation. Thank you, Noel, for your tireless work and empathy!
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Also nominated: Craig Armstrong, Liz Auchincloss, Maria Escamila, Ashley Farias, Christian Limon, Lisa Lopez, Kevin McNichol, Sharon Remacle and Chien-ei Yu.
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Victor Bryant shares his story in the SB IndependentIn commemoration of Juneteenth 2020, the Santa Barbara Independent published “Voices from Our Vibrant Black Community.” One of those “voices” was SBCC's Victor Bryant, Catalog/Schedule Specialist. In his piece, “My Lifelong Search for Liberty and Justice,” Victor relates his personal experiences, acknowledges his mentors and explains why “every decision a black person makes takes into account the implicit bias that is inherent in our society.” He notes, “The pledge of allegiance no longer resonates with me the way it did when I was a kid. The warm, fuzzy feeling is overwhelmed by a strong dose of reality. We are still fighting for what our parents fought for, what our grandparents fought for and what generations of black people in bondage dreamed of.” Read Victor's story..
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Ben Crop's latest Theatre Arts alumni interview: Gustav Högmo When people talk about a “triple threat” in the context of actors, they usually mean an actor who can sing, dance and act. However, Gustav Högmo's particular blend of skills renders that epithet obsolete — for he not only wrote, directed and acted in “Stunning,” he also composed the score of the film himself. “Stunning” was screened in Armenia, Sweden and Australia and in February of 2019 it was shown at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Gustav graduated from SBCC as one of the Film Program’s most awarded students to date, boasting 11 awards including acting, directing, screenwriting and original score.
Read more about Gustav...
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Longevity Recognitions
Each 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 June 25 Board meeting – conducted via Zoom – the following members of staff were honored:
Jose Ibarra, Facilities Assistant, 10 years
Patricia Raabe, Administrative Assistant, 15 years
Becky Saffold, Administrative Assistant, 15 years
Gordon Vander Sal, Senior Admissions and Records Technician, 15 years
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Professor Donte Newman shares his perspective in the SB Independent
Communications professor Donte Newman contributed to the Santa Barbara Independent’s Juneteenth commemoration with a story about how a conversation with an old friend – a white friend – prompted him to recognize it is incumbent upon him to “teach, correct, and inform” when opportunities topics such as the killing of George Floyd, the ensuing protests and the black lives matter movement present themselves. “This is my role toward social and political change,” he writes.
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Professor Carrie Hutchinson presents a workshop for allies seeking to be accomplicesOn June 29, Communications professor Carrie Hutchinson presented an online workshop titled “Disrupting Racism.” She is also the founder of Showing Up for Racial Justice Santa Barbara (SURJ SB). SURJ SB strives “to make clear that participation in this movement must occur under the guidance and direction of community leaders of color. We also recognize that one of the most powerful tools we have as allies and accomplices is the ability to leverage our voices within our own racial peer groups.” During the presentation Carrie shared best practices for both of these important aspects of allyship work. The workshop, via Zoom, was made possible by SBCC’s Center for Equity and Social Justice and the SBCC Foundation.
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Professor Susan Lindenauer shares student poem
After George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jocelyn Diaz, a student in Susan Lindenauer's sociology was moved to write a poem dedicated to him.
“The fact that Jocelyn was motivated by our course material and current events to write this thoughtful and powerful poem is extremely gratifying. I applaud her empathy and feel certain she will continue on a path toward academic success and an equitable community mindset.” Read Jocelyn's poem "I Can't Breathe"...
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Screen capture from Monday Madness Jazz Orchestra's YouTube performance of "Splanky"
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| SBCC Monday Madness Jazz Orchestra goes virtual
Looking for a way to keep the band playing during this trying time and to keep spirits up for all who love music, SBCC's Monday Madness Jazz Orchestra has been busy putting together the Virtual Jazz Orchestra Project. A big part of playing music is being in the same room with everyone, but since that is not possible right now, Applied Music Instructor Andrew Martinez took on the same challenge that many symphonies and jazz orchestras across the world have turned to: each member of the group records a video of their part and sends it to him to piece together. Their first effort was Count Basie's “Splanky” written and arranged by Neal Hefti. Watch the video...
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| Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Diversity, equity and inclusion are more important than ever for all institutions to address and prioritize. At SBCC, all major campus employee groups have issued statements. This is a first step, but cannot be the end. The statements express support, solidarity, and a commitment to our values. In addition, each group is committed to following up with specific actions. In the meantime, here are statements by the various groups:
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| Plans for Fall semester instructionBased on recent guidance provided by the state, county and Centers for Disease Control, SBCC will offer a substantial majority of credit courses online for the Fall 2020 semester. As some courses are difficult to teach online, a limited number of courses will be offered in a face-to-face or hybrid format, maintaining appropriate health and safety protocols. See the press release for more details.
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Foundation hosts COVID ConversationsThe SBCC Foundation invites you to participate in a series of virtual gatherings, COVID Conversations: How SBCC is Meeting the Moment. These 45-minute Zoom get-togethers feature updates from leaders of various campus departments and programs on how they are adapting to the unprecedented challenges brought about by COVID-19, followed by a Q&A.
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Conversations in June included:
- The Art & Science of Embracing Distance Learning, presented by SBCC’s Biological Sciences Professor Blake Barron and Art Professor Joy Kunz.
- Adult Ed: How the School of Extended Learning Has Kept Our Community & Businesses Connected During COVID-19, presented by Melissa Moreno, SBCC Vice President, School of Extended Learning.
- Cosmetology in the Time of COVID, presented by Cosmetology Academy Chair Michelle Puailoa and Esthetics Lead Instructor Jamie Muse Toste and joined by two current students who shared their perspectives on remote learning.
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Keep up-to-date with all SBCC press releases by checking the website or sign-up to receive press releases in your email inbox.
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