Media Advisory

  

                            For More Information Contact:

                                  Greg Greenwood

                    Public Information & Marketing

                                        (209) 954-5051

For Immediate Release,

02/26/08

San Joaquin Delta College Trustee, Maria Elena Serna Appointed State Representative to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)

(Stockton)

San Joaquin Delta College Trustee Maria Elena Serna has been appointed California’s Representative to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). The ACCT is a non-profit organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 trustees, overseeing 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States.

Serving more than 11.6 million students, 600-thousand employees and representing agencies with combined operating revenues of $31-billion, the ACCT exists to:

With a distinguished career as a community activist and educator since 1973, Trustee Serna was elected to the San Joaquin Delta College Board of Trustees in 1990. She was the first Hispanic woman elected in San Joaquin County, and the first Hispanic woman elected to the Delta College Board. In addition to her current position, and having served as the past President of the Delta College Board of Trustees, Serna is a founding member and past president of the California Association of Latino Community College Trustees (CALCCT).

        * Enhance the image and foster greater public appreciation of community                              colleges and their governing boards.

        * Support Community college boards in their efforts to govern and develop                

           policies that focus on meeting community needs.

        * Build community college board leadership and advocacy capacity through                          education and training programs.

        * Assist community college boards in the recruitment, selection and retention of            chief executive officers of the highest caliber.

 Trustee Serna joined Lodi Unified School District in 1978 and recently retired. During her tenure, she served as Social Science Department Chair and American Government instructor at Bear Creek High. She was selected twice by her peers and area administrators as a district “Mentor Teacher.”

As an active member of the community, Trustee Serna has received numerous public service awards, including the Commission on the Status of Women's Susan B. Anthony Award and Women's Club of Lodi’s Woman of Achievement Award in 1981. She is a 1991 Lodi Leadership Program graduate, and a 1993 recipient of the Council for the Spanish Speaking Community Service Award. Trustee Serna was inducted to the Hispanic Hall of Fame in 1994. President Bill Clinton appointed trustee Serna to serve on the local Selective Service Board from 1996-2000.

Given her past experience, Trustee Serna is well prepared to represent California’s interests with the ACCT. With service representing Delta College’s Legislative Advocacy Team, she plans to continue to fight for the students of San Joaquin Delta College. “This legislative work is important” states Serna, “Our students deserve to be represented at the highest levels of government and I intend to be their voice.”

For more information, please contact Greg Greenwood, Director of Public Information and Marketing at (209) 954-5051, or, greggreenwood@deltacollege.edu.