Cal State and UC systems are now over six times more expensive than when I attended Contra Costa and Diablo Valley colleges. Too many low-income students are being priced out of higher education.
As your Community College Trustee I will focus on the following priorities to ensure the opportunities I had are available to future generations:
I’ll advocate for expanding Early and Free College and university-transfer programs -- and deepen partnerships between our Contra Costa Colleges and local unions to expand skilled job training and re-training in our colleges in an era where AI is eliminating jobs and replacing people.
Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education threatens our local colleges—they could face millions in funding cuts. I’ll fight to protect core programs, including Contra Costa Colleges’ programs to train the firefighters, paramedics, nursing and healthcare professionals who keep our residents heathy and safe.
With more students and their families relying on their local community colleges to save tens of thousands of dollars, I’ll prioritize the continued recruitment and retention of the amazing faculty and educational staff our students rely on.
I’ll be a strong steward of taxpayer dollars to ensure dollars into the classroom, not bureaucracy. Our communities expect and deserve transparency and accountability on budget spending.