Alonso sworn in to COC post, Zimmer appointed president of governing board

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The boardroom of the Santa Clarity Community College District, which governs College of the Canyons (COC), was filled to the brim Wednesday afternoon as Edel Alsonso, Michele Jenkins and Steve Zimmer took the oath of office to serve of the district’s board of trustees.

“I look forward to working with everyone here,” Alonso told members of the board following the oath of office.

Supporters from the community and the college came to the meeting to welcome Alonso to the board and watch her take office.

“It was so exciting for me to see the support from my family, friends and faculty members,” Alonso said.  “And I am so grateful to them for their support during the campaign season.”

Alonso, an educator and school counselor who worked with COC the past 15 years, is the newest member of the board who was elected by District 2-area voters in the Nov. 8 election.

She said she is focusing on developing a working relationship will all board of trustees members and attending all training and conferences related to board operations.

Board members also nominated their 2017 officers with Steve Zimmer serving as president, Michael Berger serving as vice president, Michele Jenkins serving as clerk and COC Chancellor Dianne Van Hook as secretary/parliamentarian.

Zimmer, the newest board president, was first elected to the board of trustees Jan. 14, 2013.  He is an attorney at the Law Offices of Steven D. Zimmer and a former executive at Newhall Land and Farming Co.

“It will be an exciting, educational year.  We need to do as much as we can to achieve student success,” Zimmer said.  “I welcome our newest board member [Alonso] and am looking forward to a year of success.”

Board members also recognized Bruce Fortine for 36 years of service, commitment and leadership to COC as a Board of Trustees President, Board of Trustees member and COC faculty member and public information officer.

“Bruce you’ve been a fantastic member of this board of trustees and we wanted to recognize you,” Zimmer said to Fortine before presented him with a resolution and plaque.  “Your decades of loyal commitment provided countless opportunities to students.”

During his recognition, Fortine was presented with “The Fortine Resolution,” which honored him for his work as a founding COC board member, his role in shaping the college, his support of college academics and athletics, his efforts in fundraising and his leadership in the community.

As a founding board member, Fortine first took his position on the board in 1969 where he worked for four years before transitioning to the community services department in 1973.  In 1991, he returned to the board “serving in 25 years in a period of unprecedented growth.”

“Thank you to the Board of Trustees over my tenure and in particular Dr. Van Hook for being a great friend, a great leader and inspiration to thousands and thousands of students and community members,” Fortine said to the board following the resolution presentation.

Fortine also thanked his wife, Gloria, as well as the administration for their continued support over the years.

Looking forward, Fortine will take a board position with Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc., which oversees The Signal newspaper of the Santa Clarita Valley.

“I will be a board member and I will be at the very top level and advising the operation of the newspaper,” Fortine said.

Additional Board Items

  • Approval of all revised board policies and administrative regulations
  • Presentation from LEAP Project Makerspace team on the success, work and programs of the Makerspace locations at COC’s Valencia campus and Canyon Country campus
  • Report from members of the Academic Senate, Classified Senate, Committees, Board Liaison Committee, Chancellor, Student Trustee and Board Members

[email protected]
661-287-5575
On Twitter as @_ChristinaCox_

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