Mendocino College is proud to announce its very own Student Trustee, Leonardo Rodriguez, has been selected to sit on the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) Board for the 21/22 academic year.
“This is a first for Mendocino-Lake College District, we are proud of Student Trustee, Leonardo Rodriguez. This is transformational for us. Student Trustee Rodriquez will provide a voice for 2.1 million California community college students. His voice will inform and shape statewide strategic directions. Having an advocate for rural colleges with an equity mindset is critical to deliver higher education to all.” says Tim Karas, Superintendent/President.
The CCCT Board consists of 21 members elected statewide by the 73 California Community College governing boards and a student-member elected by the student trustees. The CCCT Board takes positions on and formulates education policy issues that come before the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the State Legislature, and other relevant state-level boards and commissions. This policy board provides input to the League Board to advance the mission and effectively serve the organization's member colleges.
“I am honored to be elected to the CCCT Board, and even more honored to be the first to be elected from the Mendocino-Lake Community College District,” Says Rodriguez. “As a Dreamer it is important for me to represent fellow students, especially undocumented youth. Education is for everyone, and with the power of our voice we can make this idea into reality. Y Gracias a mi comunidad por enseñarme qué con apoyo todo se puede!”
Rodriguez is a first generation college student and a dreamer who was born in Mexico and migrated to the United States when he was five years old. He is currently working on three majors at Mendocino College: political science, history, and social science. He plans to transfer to Sacramento State University to pursue his bachelors degree in political science and will then go on to obtain his master’s degree. Rodriguez plans to do internships in Sacramento so he can meet legislators and continue working with the community to learn about the problems people in society face. “When migration reform is passed, I look to serve the state and its people in any capacity that will allow me to complete my life dream of being a voice for those who are unheard,” says Rodriguez.
The Mendocino College Student Trustee is nominated each year by the students and sits on the Mendocino-Lake Community College Board of Trustees. Student trustees have the same general responsibilities as all trustees to represent the interests of the entire community; however, they also provide a student perspective on the issues facing the board. Student trustees provide their perspective to ensure that the students of the future will be served well.