College of the Canyons Board Swears in Members and Names Officers for 2017

 The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, which oversees College of the Canyons, swore in recently elected board members, named its new officers, and set its 2017 meeting schedule at the board’s business and organizational meeting held on Wednesday, December 7.
The members sworn in were incumbents Michele Jenkins and Steve Zimmer, who represent Trustee Areas 4 and 3, respectively, and Edel Alonso, who serves in Trustee Area 2 and was elected to her first term.
“I am proud to have received the support of the large majority of citizens and voters in my Trustee Area 4,” said Jenkins.  “I look forward to continue to serve the students and community in Santa Clarita. My leadership will enable COC to provide innovative programs to the students and community.”
Jenkins has served as a board member for 32 years, but her connection to the college dates back to the beginning.  She was a COC student when the college opened for its first semester in fall 1969.
Zimmer, who was appointed to the board on January 14, 2013, is an attorney at the Law Offices of Steven D. Zimmer and former executive of The Newhall Land & Farming Co. He has also served as past chair of the college’s Foundation Board of Directors Executive Committee.
“I am excited to continue my service to the College of the Canyons community,” said Zimmer. “I will focus my efforts to achieve increased student access to the college and attain higher student success rates once they are here.  I am honored to be selected by my fellow trustees to serve as president of the Board.”
Alonso worked as a counselor and professor at COC from 1999 to 2015 before retiring. A resident of the Santa Clarita Valley since 1987, she was also a counselor at Hart High School and Valencia High School.
“I am excited to start the work of a trustee and look forward to working with the other board members to ensure student success,” Alonso said.
Zimmer and Jenkins were selected by their fellow trustees to serve as president and clerk, respectively, of the board for 2017. The board unanimously voted to appoint Michael D. Berger to the position of vice president.
Berger is Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and brings 28 years of financial management experience to the board. A COC graduate, Berger was elected to the board in November 2009.
“As a College of the Canyons graduate myself, I am deeply committed to continue working toward promoting student success,” said Berger. “As a board member, I look forward to helping our students reach their educational goals at COC and beyond.”
Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook will serve as Secretary-Parliamentarian.
The board meeting dates for 2017 are as follows:
January 18 – Business Meeting
February 8 – Business Meeting
February 22 – Joint Meeting and Workshop
March 8 – Business Meeting (held at Canyon Country Campus)
March 22 – Joint Meeting with Associated Student Government (ASG)
April 12 – Business Meeting
April 26 – Potential Joint Meeting
May 10 – Business Meeting
May 24 – Joint Meeting with COC Foundation Board of Directors
June 14 – Business Meeting
June 28 –Budget Workshop
July 12 – Business Meeting
August 9 – Business Meeting
August 23 – Potential Joint Meeting
September 13 – Business Meeting and Adopted Budget Workshop
September 27 – Potential Joint Meeting
October 11 – Business Meeting
October 25 – Joint Meeting with ASG (held at Canyon Country Campus)
November 8 – Business Meeting
December 6 – Organizational and Business Meeting
The board meets at the Valencia Campus in Hasley Hall (Room 137), unless otherwise noted. Open sessions are usually scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., however board meeting start times will be adjusted as needed.  Any changes will be noted when the meeting agenda is distributed.
For more information about the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, visit www.canyons.edu.