September 18, 2024
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian today announced five fellows will take part in the inaugural Chancellor’s Climate Fellows Program – a two-year commitment for faculty and staff to support statewide level climate related work with Chancellor Christian and the Chancellor’s Office.
The Chancellor’s Office recognizes climate change is a pressing and critical issue requiring collective attention to explore actions and solutions. With this program, the fellows will focus on four key areas: community engagement, curriculum development, workforce and campus facilities.
“I am super excited to welcome our five fellows and am eager to get to work on advancing climate action education and engagement,” said Sonya Christian, California Community Colleges chancellor. “Our work will center on moving toward a more sustainable future which includes assessing the workforce needs of industries impacted by the climate change and determining how our colleges can help fill those needs and train the workforce of the future. It’s an exciting time of collaboration and innovation at the California Community Colleges; we take care of our students, our communities, and our planet.”
The California Community Colleges has been a bold proponent of climate actions, energy conservation and other sustainability measures. Climate action is built into Vision 2030: A Roadmap for California Community Colleges, as a fast-growing career field for students. It’s also a central point in the Multi-Year Roadmap Between the Newsom Administration and the California Community Colleges, which identifies priority workforce development in key industry sectors like climate action.
“The Chancellor’s Climate Fellows Program exemplifies the bold, innovative actions that California leaders are taking to confront the climate crisis,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “By empowering educators to lead community-driven climate solutions, this program will tackle the most pressing climate threats facing Californians in ways that work best for our residents. I am excited to watch these fellows shape the future of climate action in our state."
Meet the fellows:
Carla Grandy, vice president of Instruction, College of San Mateo
Carla Grandy has been selected to serve as the lead climate fellow. She has 17 years of progressive experience in the California Community Colleges. During her time as faculty, Grandy taught a range of Earth Science courses and connected students with opportunities to engage in climate action and environmental justice. In her current role, Grandy supported the institutionalization of the Sustainability as Social Justice Committee and led an effort to climatize curriculum across disciplines and in partnership with local community partners. Grandy earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental earth science from Texas Christian University, a master’s degree in oceanography from Oregon State University, and a doctoral degree in earth science from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Holly Bailey-Hoffman, faculty, West Los Angeles College
Holly Bailey-Hoffman has been selected to serve in the focus area of curriculum. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and is a practiced curriculum innovator who designed the research methods class for West Los Angeles College’s Dental Hygiene bachelor’s degree students, the Science Writing course for West’s NSF-funded S-STEM program and debuted a “Cli-fi” curriculum for her English 2 course. Recently, she’s been working with the California Center for Climate Change Education to innovate blue/green economy workforce curriculum, cultivate community partnerships with industry leaders and mentor faculty of all disciplines in “climatizing” curricula. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a master’s degree in English from University of Cincinnati and a doctoral degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Tonya Huff, faculty, Riverside City College
Tonya Huff has been selected to serve in the focus area curriculum and students. She currently serves as faculty in the Life Sciences Department at Riverside City College where she teaches Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Natural History of Southern California Ecosystems, majors and non-majors Introductory Biology, Health Science and International Field Ecology. She is the faculty chair of the RCC Sustainability Committee and co-advisor to the very active Student Sustainability Collective. Huff also participates in the District Sustainability Committee and campus Physical Resources, Food, and Parking committees as a representative for sustainability issues. Huff earned bachelor's degrees in environmental science and visual art from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a doctoral degree in biological oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
David Liebman, Energy & Sustainability manager, Santa Rosa Junior College
David Liebman has been selected to serve in the focus area of facilities. He has more than nine years of experience infusing energy and sustainability practices into California Public Institutions. He currently serves as the Energy and Sustainability manager for Sonoma County Junior College District, a position he created by showcasing the value of sustainability to the institution. Through this role, Liebman has led the district to the forefront of energy and sustainability work for California Community Colleges. He is currently programming and project managing a $40 million dollar energy and sustainability capital program. Liebman earned a bachelor's degree in energy management and design from Sonoma State University, a climate protection certificate from Skyline College and is a Climate Corp Bay Area Alumni.
Norma Rojas-Mora, associate vice chancellor, Public Affairs and Development, Kern Community College District
Norma Rojas-Mora has been selected to serve in the focus area of community engagement. She has more than 30 years’ experience in this area in addition to partnership development, program administration and grants management. She has been instrumental in developing local strategies to increase access to workforce training, affordable housing, support services, economic development and leadership development. In her current role, she collaborates with municipal, state and federal agencies, educational institutions and community service organizations to advance workforce development and educational initiatives for some of Kern County’s most underserved and disinvested communities. Rojas-Mora holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and Chicano and Chicana Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and a master’s degree in science administration from California State University, Bakersfield.
The Chancellor’s Climate Fellow will engage in one or more activities that could include but are not limited to the following:
- Engage in climate action and sustainability work on a statewide level in partnership with the Chancellor and Chancellor’s Office.
- Engage faculty and staff in conversations at the regional and statewide level.
- Develop a landscape analysis and learn how others are engaging in this work across the nation.
- Assist the Chancellor’s Office with and recommend relevant demonstration projects in sustainability, workforce development, community resilience, curriculum development or resource development.
- Participate in statewide and regional webinars, workshops, and events to provide professional learning opportunities for community college faculty and staff to promote Vision 2030 priorities.
For more information, visit the Chancellor’s Office Climate Action and Sustainability webpage. There you’ll also find a newly released report, California Community Colleges: Leading the Way on Climate Action, which details the California Community Colleges’ work to date across three fields of climate practice: Workforce Development and Curriculum, Assistance to Communities for Climate Resilience and Sustainability in Facilities and Operations.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision 2030, a strategic plan designed to improve student success, our communities and our planet. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X (Formerly Twitter).
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