Awards Recipients

The principal criteria for receiving this award will be a record of superlative service as evidenced by:  

1. providing exemplary service to students, faculty, other staff or administrators 
2. demonstrating a commitment to quality work and continual improvement 
3. participating in college committees or campus activities 
4. fostering a positive learning and working environment 

There is no doubt in our minds that this campus should recognize Zorie Gomez, Public Safety Officer, for demonstrating the four criteria above. 

Library Technologist, Carlos Luna, writes “I just want...to say how much I appreciate [Zorie] and everything [she does] for our campus. [She] always goes above and beyond... [and] is the epitome of what Public Safety can be and should be. I am always impressed by the time and care [she puts] into the work [she] does, whether it’s responding to an emergency, making time to engage in committees or even taking the time to just chat with students or staff.” When she shows up to a crisis situation, she skillfully de-escalates and brings a sense of calm to those around her. 

We see Zorie in so many spaces on campus and appreciate her willingness to learn and grow as an advocate for students. She has taken part in LEGS (Learning Equity and Growth Series) training, attended the Museum of Tolerance in 2019, has been a Puente mentor, and regularly attends EAPC as well as countless events on campus. So many folks on campus notice that she works incredibly hard and is dedicated to our students and staff. As Dr. Kassie Alexander, Promise Counselor and BSU advisor, puts it, Zorie doesn’t “just show up as security but as a secure person to connect with and a supportive and dedicated heart that we can all see.” According to Nimsi Garcia, Undocumented Community Center PSC, Zorie is “an exemplary Latina leader” who should be recognized and thanked for “all the care and compassion with which [she shows] up to work. [Her] positive attitude brightens every room [she]walks into,” and would like to recognize her “for all the ways in which [she brings her] whole heart and self to every space.” Cultural Center PSC Maggie De Paz Fernandez explains that her “presence and participation during events and programs brings light!”  Zorie is also the face of Public Safety for Student Senate, attending meetings in person every week to connect with student leaders and their work and ensuring there is a good connection with students. Arya Shahan, Student Senator, notes that “Whether in EAPC or ASCC, [her] commitment to equity and anti-racism across Cañada's campus is appreciated.”

Her support of the Black community on campus has been remarked on and deeply felt. As Candice Johnson, TRIO PSC and BSU advisor, puts it: “[Her] presence on our campus makes me feel safe and heard, and I'm so happy that [she is] here to support our students and us. [Her] heart is needed here!” Professor Lezlee Ware writes, “We truly appreciate [Zorie] and the Black members of our community feel safe and supported by [her]” while Professor Elizabeth Terzakis would like to thank Zorie for “everything [she has] done for our students and in particular our Umoja students.” Krystal Martinez, EAPC tri-chair, explains that Zorie is “a true gem on this campus and in the world. [Her] never-ending smile and passion for helping students on this campus feel safe and seen is absolutely beautiful to see. [Her] work is extremely valuable for the safety and success of this campus as a community.”

Administrators have noted that they “admire and have been amazed by [her] unceasing energy and dedication in serving our community with kindness and thoughtful consideration” and consider her “invaluable to this community” with a “love for the community” that is easy to see. 

So many people at Cañada would like to thank and recognize Zorie for being such an important presence on our campus and for all she does to advocate for and support students, faculty, and staff. We feel very strongly that she deserves to be recognized with the “Outstanding Staff Award” this year.   

Jonna goes above and beyond to provide exemplary service to students, faculty, other staff, and administrators, as division assistant in the Business, Workforce, and Design Division. Jonna has also participated in numerous college committees and campus activities. By sharing her expertise and insights, Jonna contributes to decision-making processes that shape our division’s and college’s direction. Her commitment to quality work and continual improvement is evident in her daily interactions, as she actively fosters a positive and dependable working environment. She works tirelessly at Cañada College and is the backbone of the Business, Workforce, and Design division.

Despite the overwhelming amount of work that Vivien must do, she consistently finds ways to help her co-workers and the other departments on campus. Her willingness to assist others and her commitment to the college is unequaled. Vivien always remains positive, friendly, and ensures everyone is treated with respect. Vivien has contributed to student success by providing equitable opportunities for all students at Cañada College.

Mayra Arellano exemplifies hard work, collaboration, and student-centered service.  Across the county, Cañada is well represented by her detailed knowledge, enthusiasm, and smiling face.  Despite a full calendar of outreach events, she is always willing to step up to attend an event where potential Cañada students may be or to support events on campus. She pursues collaboration with any organization where a shared effort will better serve our students. As a Manager, she has trained an amazing group of student ambassadors, who proudly represent her and this school, providing warmth and information about Cañada wherever they go. She provides these students with opportunities for growth, gives them thoughtful and timely feedback and grows them as leaders on our campus.

Ronda has led the exemplary program of Fashion Design for multiple decades at Cañada College. Her leadership has included taking students on international field trips to Italy and hosting annual fashion shows. Ronda has also shown creativity and resilience in her teaching, such as growing the Fashion Design program during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ronda knows how to stitch over tough problems! In keeping with her tireless service to Cañada and its students, Ronda has worked hard to help the Fashion Design department transition after her retirement, preparing it for continued success as a model of excellence.

Mike Noonan is an outstanding history and political science professor who teaches with passion fueled by vast knowledge of diverse subject matters.  He regularly earns praise from his students for his supportive and inspiring in person and virtual classroom style. Mike also contributes to the vitality of the campus community, presenting talks at the Cultural Center, Political Science Department and Social Sciences Topics of Interest (TOI).  Mike is a true academic, teacher and colleague who inspires us all to continually put students first. 

Alison's has dedicated painstaking care in developing curriculum that engages students, makes history relevant to them, and encourages them to be critical thinkers through a mix of lectures, group work, discussion, field trips, and inquiry projects. Through explicit and enthusiastic support for all her students, Alison creates a welcoming classroom where students know they will be heard and respected. Her mentorship of students over the years has led several to become tutors and leaders on campus. Alison has been an active leader across Cañada, including the DREAMERs Task Force, advisor to DREAMERS Student club, member of the Mural Task Force, the Land Acknowledgement and Beyond Task Force, Academic Committee on Success and Equity, and a leader in creating the new Equity and Antiracism Planning Council. Alison brings her kindness and her fun, collaborative spirit to all her responsibilities. She has been instrumental in making our college a welcoming and safe place for our students and demonstrates her untiring engagement with the work of transforming our college into a place that disrupts inequity and fosters antiracist values. She is an amazing teacher, mentor, ally, and colleague.

Susan's efforts on behalf of Cañada’s Honors’ program demonstrate exceptional commitment to Cañada College’s mission to “engage and empower students in transforming their lives and communities through quality education.” Professor Mahoney’s outstanding qualities and achievements include the creation of an Honors contract seminar to support students with academic research, leading and growing the honors’ committee for six years that overlapped with a pandemic, as well as bringing more and diverse faculty into the Honors’ cadre. Professor Mahoney has tirelessly mentored students through the honors’ process. Susan’s mantra that honors’ work doesn’t necessarily mean doing more but rather thinking deeper or differently, frames the program in a way that makes it approachable and interesting for all students. She has coordinated highly successful annual Cañada Honors showcase events and facilitated involvement in the Bay Honors Research Symposium. Susan’s exceptional stewardship of our honors’ program, with the many opportunities it provides for students, faculty, the college, and the community at large, makes her richly deserving of the distinguished faculty award. Susan Mahoney’s work exemplifies our college’s vision of “providing equitable education such that students from diverse backgrounds are able to achieve their educational goals and benefit the world.”

Alessandra has exemplar commitment to supporting students’ success and enthuasiasm to teach all ESL students. Professor Castello has empathy and lots of patience toward students who are dealing with special challenges. She makes all students feel welcome while igniting their interest, curiosity, and excitement for learning. Teaching in the community, many students would not have reached Cañada’s campus without Alessandra’s support. Professor Castello meets and exceeds Cañada College’s mission and goals of engaging and empowering students in transforming their lives and communities through quality education.

John gives exemplary service to students, faculty, other staff, and administrators. Professor John Pérez is a model of collegiality and active member of the Communication Studies department. He is constantly finding ways to better his teaching and providing support for faculty. Professor Pérez’s work ethic exemplifies a commitment to quality work and continual improvement. He is an active participant in SLO work with respect to his courses, consistently assessing his courses and adjusting as necessary. He is instrumental in zero-textbook-cost (ZTC) remixing for Communication Studies courses. Professor Pérez is a member of multiple college-wide committees: serving on the Honors Transfer Advisory Committee, Textbook Affordability subcommittee of Academic Senate, and the Peer Online Course Review group at Cañada College. Professor Pérez has also served as a Distance Education Coordinator, helping Cañada enter the CVC-OEI process. As a colleague and as an instructor, Professor John Pérez has shown himself to be warm, engaging, knowledgeable, and helpful. He is a true asset to the Communication Studies department and to the Cañada campus.

Over the last several years, Nick DeMello has served as Distance Education Coordinator, both on his own and, later, in partnership. For some of those years, he also led district-level efforts, including the revitalization of District DEAC. In this capacity, he has galvanized efforts to prepare all of our faculty with respect to distance education, spearheading efforts to include training in all arenas. His work in these areas has led to the creation of Quality Online Teaching and Learning (QOTL), having a number of faculty become Peer Online Course Reviewers (POCR), which in turn has allowed our campus to be a part of the online course exchange for the state. His work led to the development of the Virtual Campus for students and the Faculty Gateway. He has done all of this alongside teaching Chemistry, serving as the Science and Technology Representative on Academic Senate, and serving on the Textbook Affordability Subcommittee of Academic Senate. Furthermore, he has been integral in the on-going efforts to update WebSchedule into something that will lead to significant updates for our students (and the rest of the community at large) in understanding the courses that SMCCCD offers and how to connect with our campuses. His efforts in all of these arenas have allowed students to persevere in all of their courses, regardless of modality, and to connect with services and campus personnel in a variety of ways. For these reasons and more, he has gone beyond the call of duty and deserves recognition. 

Kiran Malavade has been an integral part of the English department for many years and has always been a fantastic and caring educator and contributor to the well-being of the department. Most recently, her efforts to help figure out how to best serve student needs in the aftermath of AB705, her consistent, proactive, and unpaid participation in department meetings and decision-making processes, and her general generosity with her time and resources have set her apart.

As a faculty member David is amazing in that he is not only a brilliant scholar but also an outstanding professor in a subject area that is notoriously difficult. Those who served on his hiring committee witnessed his ability to develop philosophy lessons that were entirely approachable without lowering his standards. His tenure committee continues to comment on this, and his students do as well. Generally speaking, most people find philosophy interesting but avoid philosophy courses because of their difficulty; after speaking to students about his classes we have found that is not the case with David. He is quite simply a master in terms of creating ways for students to understand difficult subject matter.