College of the Desert's State of the College informs and inspires

When William Kroonen, College of the Desert's fourth superintendent-president, introduced superintendent-president Martha Garcia Ed.D. at the Oct. 26 State of the College event, he underscored her impressive leadership.

"She is totally consumed by the simple principle of doing what is best for all students, from every corner of our very large and diverse college district," he said.

During the sold-out event at the Renaissance Esmeralda, attendees heard meaningful and innovative initiatives supporting the last year of progress.

"Our dream of providing equitable opportunities, especially to underserved and overlooked pockets of society, has been guiding the vision of our board of trustees," Garcia said. "I am honored to have been entrusted with carrying out this mission."

Garcia's mission has enhanced all facets of the student experience, from increased enrollment (adding 1,000 students to the fall '22 roster) and connecting them to support services with the Guided Pathways program to an established partnership with California Indian Nations College, whose focus is to increase indigenous students' higher education accessibility and completion.

Adopting the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program framework into the College's 2023-28 Strategic Master Plan will inspire transformational change and improve outcomes, especially for students of color and low-income students.

The highly impactful and informative event shared a number of faculty and community partners' insights and long-term connections with organizations such as California State University, San Bernardino and One Future Coachella Valley to shape equitable programs relevant to today's workforce. She also celebrated Pamela Stegman's recognition by the Bellwether College Consortium in receipt of the inaugural Outstanding Dissertation Award for her research on workforce and economic development.

Joining Garcia on stage were students and faculty involved in the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Innovations in Space Technology Curriculum at COD, one of five programs in the nation.

Ahmed El Shafie and Michael Gariety led the summer internship, developing the cutting-edge course and equipping the COD labs. Student Grecia Siono expressed her passion for circuit design and future space missions along with her aspirations to pursue a bachelor's in science and a Ph.D. en route to work for NASA.

"I was born and raised in Mexicali," Siono said, "and I cross the border weekly to attend COD. I have been amazed by the wonderful opportunities that truly empower students to pursue better lives through our chosen fields."

Garcia acknowledged the partnering cities of Indio, Cathedral City and Palm Springs "who are vital to the success of capital construction projects." She provided logistical and educational opportunity details surrounding the Indio Campus Expansion, slated to accommodate 10,000 students by 2024.

Instructor Wendy Hinrichs Sanders shared her excitement for the 2023 completion of the Indio Child Development Center. New teaching and learning environments will encompass expansive outdoor play yards. "Student parents will have access to affordable, high-quality childcare while the center will offer student teachers a nationally accredited Early Childhood training program," she said.

As local demands for quality mechanics increases, Roadrunner Motors will house COD's Automotive Technology Program. Professor Doug Redman emphasized this "benchmark opportunity to improve automotive learners' pathways into their desired careers and better meet our industry and community needs."

Garcia shed a spotlight on Palm Springs Development Project Phase I. By late 2026, it will provide West Valley residents with ample educational opportunities, new jobs and a well-trained workforce to support the region's emerging industries and economic development. COD's Bond Program "received a clean bond audit with no significant findings, reaffirming that we remain trustworthy stewards of the funds the local community approved for our capital projects," she said.

Further encouraging dialogue, Garcia presented an online survey regarding the Strategic Master Plan. Opinions of faculty, staff, students and community stakeholders will coalesce to envision COD's bright new direction for 2023-28.

She also voiced concern for at-risk youth, mentioning, "only six percent of foster youth complete higher education." A video featuring personal stories of three students who bravely navigated the system revealed their goals to become a child psychologist, an ER nurse and a neurosurgeon. Nearly half of all students enrolled in COD's foster youth program dream of helping others in their future career.

Christine Anderson, chair of the COD Foundation, highlighted the 40th anniversary of its $100-million initiative to serve students' academic and basic needs. She also announced that MacKenzie Scott's $18 million donation created an endowment for COD's award-winning EDGE/plEDGE program. Its math and English review combine with wrap-around services and free tuition to graduate 1,700 students per year.

"These are the skilled nurses, firefighters, EMTs, chefs, entrepreneurs and business leaders who give back to our community and generate over $300 million annually into our local economy," she said.

State of the College featured a host of generous sponsors, including presenting sponsor MAAS Companies, platinum sponsors Amazon, Eisenhower Health, Helen and Alan Greene and Jessica and James Greene, the COD Foundation, exclusive TV broadcast media sponsor KESQ News Channel 3, and exclusive print and digital sponsor Desert Sun and LocaliQ.

Theresa Maggio is the business development director of The Competitive Advantage, a full scope business development and revenue generation marketing firm in Palm Desert. She proudly serves as the PR writer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals CA, Desert Communities Chapter.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: College of the Desert's State of the College informs and inspires