San Bernardino Community College District Installs New Board Officers

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 12, the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) elected Board of Trustees members Donna Ferracone to serve as board president, Trustee Dr. Kathleen (Katy) Henry as vice president and Trustee Joseph Williams as clerk. The trustees will serve in those offices for two years. SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “The board has selected leaders who bring to their respective roles a commitment and understanding of the mission of our district that will enhance our ability to serve our two colleges, KVCR, the Economic Development and Corporate Training Division and our community in general.” The newly elected officers of the Board of Trustees are: President Donna Ferracone, who retired in 2009 from Crafton Hills College after 20 years of service as a faculty member, department chair and Dean of Career and Technical Education. Elected to the Board in 2010, she is active in the Kiwanis Club of Redlands (noon), Redlands Youth Accountability Board and works with Youth Hope in Redlands. She has been recognized by CSUSB as an Outstanding Alumni; University of Redlands Town and Gown for community service and education, by Assemblymember Bill Emmerson as a Woman of Distinction, and was awarded the Roy Coble Award for Service to Youth by the Service Clubs of Redlands. Ferracone received her nursing diploma from Queen of Angels School of Nursing in Los Angeles, bachelor of vocational education from CSU San Bernardino and a master of arts in educational administration from the University of Redlands. Vice President Dr. Kathleen (Katy) Henry is a university instructor and a dissertation mentor for doctoral learners. Henry first started her educational pursuits at the community college level. As a result, she is a strong advocate for meeting student needs and overcoming barriers to their success at this pivotal time in a student's educational life. She is supportive of programs that help veterans and students with special needs, as well as eLearning programs. She earned her B.S. at Southern Illinois University in workforce education and development and recognizes the importance of vocational education programs. She earned her M.A. in organizational development and her Ph.D. in human and organizational systems from the Fielding Institute. Henry's community involvement includes: Member Steering Committee for the Women's Leadership Council of Arrowhead United Way, chairperson for the Scholarship Committee of the Highland Woman's Club, member/past chair of Youth Services and K-Kids at Kiwanis Club of Highland, and she serves as an ambassador for the Highland Chamber of Commerce. The SBCCD oversees San Bernardino Valley College, Crafton Hills College, the Economic Development and Corporate Training Division (EDCT), and its own public television and radio station (KVCR TV-FM). Clerk Joseph Williams was appointed to fill a Board of Trustees vacancy in 2013. He is the Founder and CEO of the Youth Action Project (YAP) and has served youth and adults of the Inland Empire for the past 14 years. YAP integrates youth popular culture in its program to engage positive dialogue, decision-making, and actions that will improve educational and workforce outcomes. Prior to founding YAP, Williams was employed with the county of San Bernardino for nine years, working for the Department of Behavioral Health, the Workforce Development Department and the Sheriff’s Department. He currently serves as a member of the California Workforce Investment Board and the California Committee to Employ People with Disabilities, and as the vice-chair of the Legislative Committee on the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board. Joseph served as the SBCCD student trustee when he was a college student, continuing on to complete a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Redlands.