Two Faculty Members Honored with the California Community Colleges Hayward Award for Excellence in Education
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Community Colleges Board of Governors on Tuesday honored two Northern California faculty members with the 2025-26 Hayward Award for Excellence in Education.
Shagun Kaur, a communications instructor at De Anza College, and Sheila Smith, a child development and family studies faculty member at Solano Community College, were honored at the March 24th Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento.
The Hayward Award for Excellence in Education program, established in 1989 and named in honor of former California Community College Chancellor Gerald C. Hayward, are presented annually to celebrate outstanding community college faculty members, selected by their peers, for demonstrating the highest level of commitment to their students, college and profession.
“Being nominated by peers speaks volumes about an instructor’s dedication and impact. We are proud to celebrate Shagun and Sheila and the difference each one makes in students’ lives every day. Their commitment drives the progress we seek in achieving the goals of our strategic plan, Vision 2030,” said Sonya Christian, California Community Colleges chancellor.
Award recipients are nominated by their college academic senate and selected by representatives of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.
“These educators embody the spirit of the Hayward Award, demonstrating how dedication, innovation, and care can create lasting impact for students and communities alike. The Academic Senate extends its heartfelt congratulations to this year’s recipients, Shagun Kaur and Sheila Smith, whose work reflects a deep and enduring commitment to equity and student success,” said President LaTonya Parker-Parnell, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.
This year’s honorees are:
Shagun Kaur is a full-time communications study faculty member at De Anza College and a champion for open educational resources (OER). Kaur has led the statewide development of 30 accessible OER across STEM, humanities, and social sciences, supporting multi-district faculty teams and advancing open access throughout the California Community Colleges. Kaur also secured $1.6 million to develop 13 Zero Textbook Cost degree pathways at De Anza, generating $2.8M in annual student savings and advancing equity for first-generation, low-income, and minority students. Kaur also serves as an Academic Senate vice president and tri-chair of College Council and College Advisory, providing leadership in shared governance, instructional planning, and budget processes.
Sheila Smith is a part-time child development and family studies faculty member at Solano Community College and a results-oriented college educator with instructional and leadership experience in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Smith has served as an early childhood educator and workshop facilitator, leading diversity workshops for college students and teachers. Smith is also a co-coordinator for Teaching4Equity at Solano Community College, which has become a space to learn, share, develop, and facilitate discussions on how instructors can best serve their students. “I am committed to providing a radical space that is accessible and inclusive to all students: where every student knows, without a doubt, they belong.”
The Hayward Awards are supported through a grant from the Foundation for California Community Colleges. Each recipient receives $1,250 and a commemorative plaque. To view pictures of the Hayward Awards presentation, please visit our Hayward Awards photo collection.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.2 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).