Eleven California Community College Trustees Receive 2020 Fulfilling the Trust Award
SACRAMENTO, CA – Every year the Community College League of California (League) recognizes the enduring dedication and service of California's community college trustees with the Fulfilling the Trust Award. The award honors trustees who have served twenty years on a community college district board and acknowledges their service again every ten years thereafter. This year we honor eleven trustees who have achieved two or more decades of service, including Trustee Edward Ortell, who has served 50 years at the Citrus Community College District and is currently the longest-serving trustee at a California Community College.
The League is pleased to announce the following trustees have received the 2020 Fulfilling the Trust Award. To watch our promotional video, click here
Manuel Baca, Mt. San Antonio CCD, 20 Years
Since 1999, Dr. Manuel Baca has served as a Trustee for Mt. San Antonio Community College District. During his tenure on the board, he has served multiple terms as president. Trustee Baca's professional experience spans the state university and community college systems, including past president of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Manuel received his undergraduate and graduate degree at CSU Fullerton and a Ph.D. at USC. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he is an active supporter/advocate for veterans.
Pamela Haynes, Los Rios CCD, 20 Years
Pam Haynes has served on the Los Rios Board of Trustees since 1999. She also serves on the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the California Community College Trustees Board, and the Los Rios Foundation Board. She has a background in K-12 and higher education policy and economic and community development. A Santa Monica City College transfer student, she has a bachelor's degree from UCLA and a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.
Susan Keith, Citrus CCD, 20 Years
A tireless champion of education, Susan M. Keith was first elected to the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees in 1999. She has also served on the California Community College Trustees Board and was a resource team member for the Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative. Mrs. Keith is an active member of the community and has served on numerous boards, including the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education and Baldy View Regional Occupational Program Commission.
Eva Kinsman, Copper Mountain CCD, 20 Years
Eva Kinsman has served on the board of trustees for Copper Mountain Community College since 1999. She has held each office of the board four times. She has worked with the Community College of League California’s Advisory Committee on Education Services and has served on the California Community College Trustees Board. Eva is a retired educator, having been a teacher and principal for both elementary and secondary levels. She also taught for the University of Redlands as adjunct faculty for seven years.
Eva Long, Marin CCD, 20 Years
Eva Long is president and co-founder of Excellence Launch Associates, a management consulting business that conducts the governor’s school accountability management audits. Ms. Long has worked as a teacher, superintendent and UC Berkeley adjunct faculty. She has a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Art from San Francisco State University, as well as a master’s degree in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Supervision, from Stanford University, and a doctorate from Fielding Institute, in Santa Barbara.
John Martin, Pasadena Area CCD, 40 Years
John H. Martin was elected to the board of the Pasadena Area Community College District in 1979. A Pasadena native who attended Temple City and Arcadia schools, he holds degrees from UCLA and CSULA. John is a nonprofit executive director and a financial consultant. He is also CFO of Minuteman Transportation, a multi-million-dollar logistics company in the San Gabriel Valley. John is married and has three grown children, two of whom also attended PCC.
Gary Mendez, Rio Hondo CCD, 20 Years
Gary Mendez was first elected to the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees in November 1999. Mr. Mendez is a former Rio Hondo College student who served as the Student Trustee on the College Board and where he earned a degree in Paralegal Studies and Political Science before transferring to California State University, Sacramento. Mr. Mendez is the Chief Executive Officer of anon-profit dedicated to serving children, youth and families in disadvantaged communities.
Edward Ortell, Citrus CCD, 50 Years
Edward C. Ortell, J.D., is a lifelong community college advocate and was elected to the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees in 1969. As a board member, Dr. Ortell has held all board offices, including more than 10 terms as board president. He has also served on the California Community College Trustees Board, the California Master Plan for Education Task Force and the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association. Dr. Ortell is a professor emeritus at Pasadena City College.
Rayola Pratt, Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint CCD, 20 Years
Rayola Pratt has served as a Shasta College Trustee since 1999 and was an Executive Committee member of the Shasta College Foundation from 2000-2019. Pratt is an active and contributing member of several community organizations in Shasta and Trinity Counties. Pratt is a retired Executive Director of the American Heart Association, and a past Fundraising Director of the American Cancer Society. She has worked for the Carter House Natural Science Museum in Redding as project coordinator, as well as for the Shasta Union High School District, Gateway Unified School District, and Shasta Elementary School District.
Bonnie Stefan, Desert CCD, 20 Years
Bonnie Stefan, Ed.D. has been a trustee for the Desert Community College District since 1999. A strong advocate for accessibility and transparency in education, Stefan has been instrumental in the college’s adoption of programs and initiatives that address some of the biggest issues facing community colleges today. Aside from her work at the college, she serves as an instructor at Amistad High School. Dr. Stefan earned her associate degree from Southwest Community College, bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and a master’s and Doctorate in Education from United States International University.
Louis Wong, Imperial CCD, 20 Years
Louis Wong was appointed to the Imperial Community College District Board of Trustees for Area 1 encompassing the Calexico Unified School District and took office on June 7, 1999. Wong graduated from Imperial Valley College in 1973 and is the owner of YumYum Chinese Restaurant in Calexico, CA. Wong is involved in numerous community fundraising campaigns, often donating food and the use of his restaurant to various causes.
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The Community College League of California (League), whose vision is Quality Public Community Colleges for All Californians, is a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a voluntary membership of the 73 local community college districts in California. The League promotes student access and success by strengthening colleges through advocacy, policy development, leadership development, and district services. Visit our website at www.ccleague.org.
