Rancho Santa Margarita

South OC Community College District Area 4 Candidate

Candidate Statement:

“NARGES RAKIN | AGE: 56 | College Dean/Educator

I'm Narges Rakin — an educator, a professor, a parent, and an advocate who has spent nearly three decades working inside California's community colleges, putting students first as a tenured professor, a faculty union negotiator, and now a Dean. That depth of experience is an asset, not just a resume line because I know this system inside and out, from the classroom to the negotiating table to the administration building, and I know where the gaps between promises and practice tend to show up.

I'm running for the SOCCCD Board of Trustees because I believe our district's budget and decisions belong to the public, not just the boardroom. Too often, families are asked to trust institutions without being shown the reasoning behind them. I don't think that's good enough.

As a board member, I will push for open, plain-language budget reporting that any parent or taxpayer can actually read. I will prioritize outside grant and workforce-development funding to

grow academic programs, protecting the general fund as a last resort. And I will insist that every decision can stand up to a direct question from a student, a parent, or the public — asked openly, and answered honestly.

I ask for your vote.

www.therakin.org”

Email: mailto:info@therakin.org 

Campaign Website: https://www.therakin.org/

Priorities: 

• Budgets built in the open

• Growth without risk

• Answerable to the people who pay for it

Any Other Interesting Info:

• Director of Shokooh Foundation is a 501(c) Private Charity Organization.

  • “We are a Nonprofit Humanitarian Organization for Children.”

• From LinkedIn - Experience

  • Chancellor's Office Special AI Advisor - California Community Colleges

    • Sep 2025 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Dean of Humanities and Social Science - Cerritos College · Full-time

    • Jul 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • Principal Consultant - Command Academics · Contract

    • Sep 2021 - Present · 5 yrs 2 mos

  • Member - Community College League of California

    • Jan 2021 - Jun 2025 · 4 yrs 6 mos

  • Rancho Santiago Community College District - Full-time · 20 yrs

    • Professor - Aug 2004 - Jul 2024 · 20 yrs

    • Assist. Vice Chancellor- People & Culture: Chief Diversity & Social Impact Officer   - Jul 2020 - Jul 2022 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    • Faculty Union President and Chief Negotiator - Jul 2011 - Jul 2020 · 9 yrs 1 mo

  • Member Of The Board Of Advisors - National Model United Nations · Freelance

    • Mar 2020 - Jun 2024 · 4 yrs 4 mos

  • Faculty Association  - FARSCCD

    • Jul 2011 - Jul 2020 · 9 yrs 1 mo

• From LinkedIn - Education

  • University of Southern California - Doctor of Education - EdD, Organizational Leadership

  • Cornell University ILR School - Professional Certificate, Diversity and Inclusion

  • California State University, Long Beach - Master of Arts - MA, Political Science and Government

  • California State University, Fullerton - Master of Arts - MA, HISTORY

  • California State University, Fullerton - History and Political Science 

• From LinkedIn - Volunteering

  • Director - Shokooh Foundation

    • Jul 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    • Our Mission is to improve the quality of life for children around the world who are in need – from toddlers to college students.

Social Media Links: 

• Personal Facebook - Small number of posts from 2013 to August 2026, all family

• Personal Twitter - Posts starting in 2011 with most recent in December, 2020, including:

  • Feb 7, 2012 - “Way to go California same sex unions are not an issue in CA. Seriously, private lives are private.”

  • Feb 4, 2013 - “....the NRA and their minions dismantle the truth, while our living breathing children are slaughtered.”

  • Jun 26, 2015 - picture lowering Confederate flag then raising Pride flag

• Personal Instagram - no posts visible

• Second Personal Instagram - one post with no text

• LinkedIn - Posts every few months starting 6 years ago, all see to be career related

• Not found on Threads; Bluesky

Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

• Personal Facebook - 82 friends, not available to view

• Personal Twitter - following 85, including

  • Bernie Sanders - @BernieSanders

  • Barack Obama - @BarackObama

  • Kamala Harris - @KamalaHarris

• Personal Instagram - following 38, majority look to be private, personal accounts

• Second Personal Instagram - following 324, including

  • janefonda - Jane Fonda

  • malala - Malala Yousafzai

  • rbreich - Robert Reich

• LinkedIn - 478 connections - need to connect to be able to see them

Candidate’s Public Comments:

• Narges Rakin, South Orange County Community College District Area 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire - By Kaitlyn Schallhorn | kschallhorn@scng.com - PUBLISHED: October 5, 2026 at 2:22 PM PDT

  • What are the top two needs of your college district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

  • The most pressing need is at Saddleback College. The district’s recent Inspire 2035 visioning sessions center on direct support for students and campus infrastructure, expanding basic needs funding and student emergency aid, extending hours at the Student Health Center, modernizing classrooms for the English and humanities departments, adding more direct financial aid and free textbooks, and addressing longstanding budget and bureaucratic bottlenecks within the district’s approval processes.

As the Area 4 Trustee, my priority is to prioritize and fund basic-needs programs and emergency student aid in the budget, working to streamline the approval processes that staff and faculty flagged as a frustration, while championing facilities upgrades like modern classrooms.

• To you, what is the role of community college in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

• The role of community college is to provide a broad education system to the community. The colleges must remain affordable and accessible. For a large share of students, community college is the first two years of a bachelor’s degree and a gateway to higher degrees, which can lead to a career.

Beyond transfer, community colleges train people directly for jobs, for example, nursing, automotive technology, computer science, culinary arts, skilled trades, etc. Very often through certificate programs, these pathways take months, rather than years, to complete.

Community colleges serve older students returning to school, people changing careers, first-generation college students, and those needing remedial coursework before tackling college-level work. Lastly, community colleges are the economic anchor of the community.

• In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Yes, student housing should be a priority, but a realistic, phased plan rather than a flagship promise. Housing insecurity is already one of the most commonly cited barriers to student success and, for community colleges specifically, even a small dedicated housing option can meaningfully increase persistence and completion rates for students who commute long distances, couch-surf, or drop classes because they can’t afford to live near campus.

• What actions would you suggest to prevent a cyberattack similar to the Canvas data breach in May? How can your district ensure students’ information is safe? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Cybersecurity isn’t something I’d treat as just an IT problem. It’s a board-level responsibility, especially since community colleges have become a favorite target for ransomware precisely because we’re seen as underfunded and under-defended. I’d push for the basics that actually stop most attacks — for example, multi-factor authentication — and ensure that systems are kept patched and updated, networks are segmented so one compromised computer can’t take down financial aid or enrollment systems, and backups are tested and stored separately so we’re never forced into paying a ransom. Also, establish real phishing training and a clear, blame-free way for staff to report something suspicious the moment they see it.

On the governance side, I’d ask for a real cybersecurity policy with clear ownership of incident response, regular outside audits instead of just trusting our own systems are fine, and careful vetting of the vendors we give system access to. And honestly, I’d fight to get cybersecurity its own protected line in the budget rather than something that gets cut first when money’s tight, with the board getting regular updates.

• How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• AI in the classroom is safe when it’s used with intention and guardrails, and risky when it’s adopted without either. Having taught history and political science for 24 years before moving into administration, I’ve watched technology change the classroom before, and the lesson I keep coming back to is that the tool itself is rarely the problem; it’s whether faculty and students are given the training and structure to use it well.

AI should be a tool that extends what a good instructor already does and not a shortcut around the work of learning, and not a replacement for the human relationships that actually keep students enrolled and succeeding. As a trustee, I’d ask the district to invest in real faculty training on this, develop clear and consistent policy rather than leaving it to individual instructors to sort out, and keep asking whether a given use of AI is helping students think more, or think less.

• How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• As a professor for 24 years, I’ve seen firsthand that civil discourse doesn’t happen just because students are in the same room together; it has to be taught deliberately. It starts with actually structuring opportunities for students to disagree productively, for example, formal debate programs, moderated discussions on contested issues, and classroom norms that reward genuine engagement with an opposing view rather than just winning an argument or shutting someone down.

Faculty play a huge role here, too, where they need to model what it looks like to explore a hard question fairly, present multiple credible perspectives, and separate “I disagree with you” from “you’re a bad person for believing that.”

I’d also want to see students practicing this across differences, not just in the abstract. This is done by bringing together people with genuinely different backgrounds, political views, and life experiences so disagreement isn’t hypothetical.

And honestly, some of it is about giving students the tools before they need them. For example, teaching media literacy and how to evaluate a source so disagreements are grounded in facts rather than misinformation, and giving students language for disagreeing respectfully instead of either avoiding conflict entirely or treating every debate like a fight to win. Community colleges are actually well-positioned for this, since our student bodies are already so diverse in age, background, and life experience.

• What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• I bring nearly three decades inside this system, with 24 years as a community college professor teaching history and political science, followed by my current role as a college dean. That combination matters in this role. I’ve stood in front of the classroom and know what students actually need to succeed, and I’ve also sat in the leadership meetings where budget, policy, and facilities decisions get made.

Teaching history and political science for over two decades taught me how to help people understand complex systems, weigh competing perspectives fairly, and reason through hard questions without oversimplifying them. These are skills I use every day now as an administrator, and skills that a board sorely needs when it’s making decisions that affect thousands of students.

As a dean, I’ve learned how to manage competing priorities with limited resources, how to translate faculty and student concerns into policy that actually gets implemented, and how to navigate the bureaucratic layers of a district system without losing sight of the people it’s supposed to serve.

My priorities coming into this role are the ones I’ve lived with directly, these are student basic needs and affordability, modernizing classrooms and facilities, supporting faculty who are doing the actual work of instruction, and making sure the board’s decisions are grounded in what’s happening on the ground — not just what looks good in a strategic plan. I’m not coming to this seat to learn the system. I’ve spent 24 years teaching in it and years since leading in it, and that’s exactly the perspective I want to bring to the board table.

• If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

• My mascot is the falcon. I chose the falcon because it reflects the way I lead. Falcons are known for extraordinary eyesight. They have the ability to see clearly and with precision from a height that others can’t reach. As a college dean, I’ve spent years inside this system, close to faculty, staff, and students, and that vantage point has given me the clarity to see the whole landscape, not just the piece in front of me. The falcon also carries a sense of purposeful speed, as it doesn’t wander or hesitate; it targets what matters and moves with decisiveness. That’s the kind of leadership I want to bring to the board: clear-eyed, grounded in experience, and willing to act rather than get stuck in bureaucratic slowness. The falcon isn’t just a symbol I picked. It’s how I intend to show up in this role.

• Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

• The best book this year is Liz Wiseman’s “Multipliers.” It describes investing in people, assuming capability rather than doubting it, and creating conditions for growth, as it lines up naturally with the mission of a community college.

Endorsed by: 

• Iranian American Democrats of California 

Candidate in the News:

• Nothing found

Public Voting Record:

• Nothing found, has not held office yet

Follow the Money: 

• From netfile.com - records from 2020 but nothing more recent found

South OC Community College District Area 4 Candidate

Candidate Statement:

“GILA JONES | Board Member, Capistrano Unified School District

Tested Leadership – Future Focus – Transparency

During my twelve-year tenure on your Capistrano Unified School District board, I successfully advocated for the establishment of a new Academy for CUSD students, located on the Saddleback College campus, where students are able to take both high school and college courses, and may simultaneously earn CUSD and Saddleback diplomas. I was part of the team that hired a new superintendent; added to the already-strong Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate curricula; improved public transparency and communication with parents; and many other accomplishments.

It’s critical that we prepare students for a very rapidly changing global economy and job market. I’ll urgently advocate for coursework in emerging fields, as well as high-demand careers with apprenticeship options, both for young people and those pursuing new fields of work or study. Public trust requires stringent oversight. The current South Orange County Community College District board failed to protect residents and taxpayers when they voted to accept a $750,000 developer inducement tied to a potentially hazardous Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), near Saddleback College, without proper scrutiny. Trustees must independently vet staff recommendations rather than rubber-stamping staff proposals that may compromise community safety.

If elected, I’ll bring governance experience, future-driven vision, and public accountability to the board. 949-371-6662”

Email: gilajones4collegeboard@gmail.com 

Campaign Website: https://www.gilajones.org/ 

Priorities: 

• Career Education for an AI - influenced Future

• Budget Accountability

• Grow Dual Enrollment

• Strengthen  Math Preparation

Any Other Interesting Info:

• Gila was in attendance at a South Orange County Pride event in early fall 2026 where she spoke briefly with Pride at the Pier. 

• Capistrano Unified school board majority votes for resolution opposing trans athletes in girls’ sports - By Hanna Kang | hkang@scng.com - PUBLISHED: May 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM PDT | UPDATED: May 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM PDT - OC Register

  • “After several hours of impassioned testimony, board member clashes and tense public outbursts, the Capistrano Unified School District board approved a resolution calling for “fairness in girls’ sports,” and opposed the participation of transgender athletes in women’s athletic competitions.

  • The 4-2-1 vote on Wednesday, May 21, comes amid a broader debate that has increasingly played out in school board chambers across the region and country. Capistrano Unified, the largest district in Orange County, is believed to be the first OC district to adopt such a resolution.

  • [...] “This harms connectedness for some kids,” Trustee Gila Jones said, urging her colleagues to delay the vote and instead workshop the topic in a more collaborative setting. “Contentiousness on the board doesn’t move the needle for kids.” 

  • NOTE: minutes of the meeting appear to be no longer available on the capousd.org site, but found here - search for “Resolution No. 2425-30” or here is the scan of the resolution with the hand written notes of votes.

  • NOTE: Gila Jones was the abstaining vote in the 4-2-1 outcome

• Why Did a South OC School Board Member Say the N-Word? - by Hosam Elattar and Angelina Hicks - Mar 14, 2025 - Voice of OC

  • “A South Orange County school board member’s use of the N-word at a recent public meeting – while supporting approval of a book about an enslaved man – has triggered concerns and debate across one of Orange County’s largest school districts.”

  • “[...] CUSD Board Member Gila Jones said she does not approve of the use of the N-word, adding that Bullockus did not use the word an as epithet, but in the context of a discussion about a book where the N-word is used often.  “I don’t say that word. I don’t think people should say it. I don’t approve of kids saying it to each other. I don’t approve of rap singers saying it,” she said in a Friday phone call. “It’s a bad word, but I also want to be very clear, it was in context.” She also said that a resident used the full word in their public comments before Bullockus spoke.

• CapoUSD - Meet Our Board Members

• https://ballotpedia.org/Gila_Jones

• From LinkedIn - Experience

  • Candidate, Board of Trustees - South Orange County Community College District (Aug 2026 - Present · 3 mos)

  • Member of the Board of Trustees - Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) (Dec 2014 - Present · 11 yrs 11 mos)

  • Advisory Board Member - Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano (Sep 2013 - Present · 13 yrs 2 mos)

  • Member of the Board of Trustees - College and Career Advantage - Regional Occupational Program (Jan 2016 - Dec 2024 · 9 yrs)

  • Volunteer Coordinator - Kinoshita Elementary School (Sep 2009 - Sep 2016 · 7 yrs 1 mo)

  • Commissioner, Housing Advisory Committee - City of San Juan Capistrano (Sep 2009 - Sep 2012 · 3 yrs 1 mo)

  • Product Manager - VSI / V Systems, Inc. (1997 – 2000)

• From LinkedIn - Education

  • D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University - MBA, Management Information Systems (1975 – 1977)

  • UC Irvine - B.A. (1970 – 1975)

Social Media Links: 

• Personal Facebook - Assumed based on limited details available

  • Posts from 2018 through September 2026 on many topics - pro Ukraine; science news stories; local events, etc.

  • November 23, 2025 - “Putin has stolen Mariupol, and likely won't stop until he completes the theft of the remainder of Ukraine, Moldova, and the Baltics. Can  he be stopped?”

• Campaign Instagram - 6 posts, five campaign related one personal

• LinkedIn - no posts but many likes of other’s posts - see Reactions

• Not found on Twitter; Threads; Bluesky; Youtube

Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

• Personal Facebook - Assumed based on limited details available - 1k friends, not visible

• Campaign Instagram - following 329 including

  • cvasquez4mvcc - Cynthia Vasquez | Mission Viejo Council Member

  • emmonsforcusd - Jeanna Emmons for CUSD

  • erinbeyer4citycouncil - Erin Beyer

  • melissacforcusd - Melissa Caldwell

• LinkedIn - 1,362 followers, cannot see them without becoming a connection

Candidate’s Public Comments:

• Instagram - gila_jones_for_college_board - Gila Jones - June 1, 2026

  • “My dad's oldest brother was a gay man -- just as awkward and shy as he appears in this old photo, but also talented, wise, kind, and hilariously funny. Remembering him this #Pride Month, I wish he had lived to enjoy the kind of acceptance he would have experienced today.”

Endorsed by: 

• Mike Levin, Member of Congress

• Catherine Blakespear, State Senator

• Katrina Foley, Member, Orange County Board of Supervisors

• The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

• South Orange County Community College District Faculty Association

• More available on Campaign site

• On Instagram canyondemocrats - Canyon Democrats

Candidate in the News:

• capodispatch - The Capistrano Dispatch - May 15, 2021

  • “The renaming has been in the works since last year, when Trustee Gila Jones originally brought up the matter following scrutiny of Father Junipero Serra, the school’s namesake. The campus is a continuation school in San Juan Capistrano.”

• Capistrano Unified rejects parental notification policy, a first among OC school districts - By Annika Bahnsen | abahnsen@scng.com - PUBLISHED: October 19, 2023 at 8:47 AM PDT | UPDATED: October 20, 2023 at 9:37 AM PDT

  • “Capistrano Unified School District voted against enacting a parental notification policy Wednesday night, the first Orange County school district to outright deny such a proposal.”

  • “But after being asked for clarification during the discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Trustee Lisa Davis, who proposed the policy, said students’ gender identity would also result in parental notification.”

  • “Trustee Gila Jones, who voted against the policy, was not in favor of using the word “notification” to describe the policy but suggested using “engagement” instead. “Engagement suggests that it is a partnership,” said Jones. “I do not think that parents are the enemy, not for a minute. I also do not think that there is anyone in the district who thinks that as well.” ”

Public Voting Record:

• Gila Jones, South Orange County Community College District Area 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire - By Kaitlyn Schallhorn | kschallhorn@scng.com - PUBLISHED: October 5, 2026 at 2:21 PM PDT

  • Question: What are the top two needs of your college district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

  • Answer: 1) The efficient use of taxpayer dollars is important for any governmental agency, but for a college district board, the top priority is ensuring funding directly impacts the educational success of students.

2) With AI rapidly transforming education, the district must invest in training for faculty and staff and partner with industry and community organizations that can give students real-world, hands-on experience with new technologies.

• Question: To you, what is the role of community college in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

• Answer: California’s community colleges were built on an open-access model to offer affordable, low-barrier education for everyone. They uniquely serve three primary groups: high school graduates who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university, those who are seeking job training or retraining, and individuals taking classes of personal interest or for self-improvement. No other California public educational entities serve these important purposes.

• Question: In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Answer: Yes, student housing should be a priority, but it must be done without burdening taxpayers or taking on excessive risk. Many California affordable housing developers will build, manage, and maintain income-restricted housing on publicly owned land through a low-cost, long-term ground lease. I will advocate for exploring this public-private model on the three SOCCCD campuses.

• Question: What actions would you suggest to prevent a cyberattack similar to the Canvas data breach in May? How can your district ensure students’ information is safe? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Answer: The problem arises when critical data is stored in a cloud. Outsourcing storage is attractive for the end user because it’s cost-effective, but risk management should never be outsourced. Cloud providers must meet high-level security standards, and all software contracts must include significant financial accountability for any breach.

In addition to vendor oversight, other good practices include minimizing storage of sensitive information, requiring students and employees to update passwords frequently, and using multi-factor authorization on sign-in.

• Question: How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Answer: AI chatbots are no less safe in classrooms than anywhere else. However, because the common use of AI chatbots is relatively new, many people may be unaware that chatbots can provide extremely inaccurate information, and that there have been instances of chatbots encouraging users toward self-harm, recommending illegal actions, and giving health advice that resulted in medical emergencies. To improve public information about chatbot risks, the first meeting of any community college class could include a handout or brief lesson about such potential hazards.

• How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Answer: Students of all beliefs (political, religious, personal) must feel welcome on college campuses. Both the Saddleback and Irvine Valley campuses encourage civil discourse by participating in the Students Vote Project, “a statewide nonpartisan program that amplifies college student voices and promotes civic engagement efforts to build a more inclusive democracy.

Part of the issue today is that people rarely interact with those holding differing political views. To address this, individual departments or instructors could draw inspiration from NPR and StoryCorps’ One Small Step project, in which pairs people with opposing viewpoints for a non-political conversation—and encourage similar dialogue exercises in humanities courses. Building personal connections across political divides helps students see one another as individuals rather than adversaries.

• Question: What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Answer: I have 12 years’ experience as a local public school board member, where I was involved in the development and modification of student and staff policies; hired, supervised, and evaluated a district superintendent and other executive leadership; oversaw multi-million dollar budgets and spending; and participated in the establishment of long-term strategic plans and district goals.

I successfully advocated for the establishment of a new Academy on the Saddleback campus where high school students are able to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and a two-year college degree.

I have prioritized community outreach. As the only Spanish-speaker on my previous board, I worked to improve communication with our Spanish-speaking stakeholders. As the only board member whose cell number is published on my district’s website, I have been directly accessible to students and parents, city council members, and other local elected leaders.

Additionally, through my legislative advocacy for public education, I have developed relationships with state lawmakers and their staff. I look forward to bringing my track record, legislative insight, and “community first” approach to the SOCCCD Board.

• Question: If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

• Answer: My mascot is a cartoon of a Gila Monster, a humorous play on my name. Using a lighthearted drawing reflects who I am and how I operate — I’m open and accessible, and I’m not afraid to laugh at myself. I’ve always prioritized real connection with the community, which is why I’m the only CUSD board member who lists their personal cell number on the district’s website. I hope the cartoon communicates that I’m friendly and approachable, and that community members should never hesitate to get in touch. (Unlike a real Gila Monster, I promise I’m not venomous.)

• Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

• Answer: Most of the reading I do for pleasure is of books our schools are considering for adoption. My favorite recent read was “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Klara is a humanoid robot, called an Artificial Friend, for a child. While the author reports that AI chatbots and large language models were not his inspiration for the story, Klara had some similarities to them. Unlike a chatbot, however, Klara showed great curiosity about the world and genuinely enjoyed her relationships with humans. The character of Klara was unlike any I’d ever encountered in a book, and I was charmed by the way she interacted with people, her indefatigable optimism, and her many amusing yet logical misinterpretations of the world

Follow the Money: 

• From netfile.com search to see others like personal-to-campaign payments and other donations:

  • Gila Jones for College Trustee 2026 - paid to Cal Voter Guide - Slate mailer - 09/09/2026 $3,399.00

  • Gila Jones for College Trustee 2026 - paid to California Homeowners Voter Guide - Slate Mailer - 09/15/2026 $1,655.00

  • Gila Jones for College Board 2026 - paid to California Homeowners Voter Guide - 09/16/2026 $1,654.00

  • Gila Jones for College Trustee 2026 - paid to No Party Preference Voter Guide - Slate Mailer - 09/15/2026 $1,043.00

  • Carmenmara Hernandez-Bravo - paid to Gila Jones for College Trustee 2026 - 09/14/2026 $200.00

South OC Community College District Area 4 Candidate

Candidate Statement:

“JOHN BLACK | Military Officer/Educator

I, John Black, serving years as a Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, believe South Orange County's community colleges should open doors to good careers, four-year universities, skilled trades, military, public service, and entrepreneurship. I am running for the Board of Trustees to help students succeed while protecting taxpayer dollars.

I have spent my career as an educator, teaching, coaching, and mentoring students, including Marines, and serving as adjunct faculty, a distinguished fellow at MIT, and guest lecturer at universities. Learning changes lives; I have spent decades helping people learn, lead, and grow.

I have led large organizations and managed the public funds that support them. As Senior Emergency Management Program Coordinator for the Orange County Health Care Agency, I

strengthened disaster preparedness, improved accountability for funded programs, and coordinated planning serving millions of residents. I understand budgets, oversight, and stewardship of public resources.

I co-lead The JASSD Group and support veterans, first responders, and their families through Veterans FORWARD. My wife, Dr. Aime Black, our family, and I live in San Clemente.

As a Trustee, I will focus on student success, academic excellence, workforce partnerships, safe campuses, and transparent governance.

I would be honored to serve and respectfully ask for your vote.

www.johnblack4collegeboard.com”

Email: john@johnblack4collegeboard.com 

Campaign Website: https://www.johnblack4collegeboard.com/ (Under Construction as of Aug 2026)

Priorities - see campaign site for details: 

• 1. STUDENT SUCCESS: PATHWAYS TO CAREERS, MOBILITY, AND HIGHER PAY

• 2. SAFE, WELCOMING CAMPUSES (NOTE: He goes on to reference law enforcement in his explanation of this point)

• 3. FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• *. HOW I WILL SERVE: MISSION FIRST, PEOPLE ALWAYS

Any Other Interesting Info:

• John Black is running as an openly far-right candidate for office. He’s advertised an endorsement on his campaign website from Moms on the Ground, a local, SoCal group that is affiliated with the larger Moms For Liberty organization and regularly collaborates with the OC Chair of Moms For Liberty, Madison Miner. His pages are filled with phrases about opposing ‘ideology’ and leading with ‘faith, family, freedom’. 

• From LinkedIn - Experience

  •  Co-Founder & CEO - The JASSD Group Consulting Services / Veterans FORWARD · Full-time (Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 10 mos)

  • Sr. Emergency Management Coordinator — OC HCA EMS, Health Disaster Preparedness (HDP) - County of Orange · Full-time (Aug 2025 - Apr 2026 · 9 mos)

  • Fellow - Business Advisory Services (Change Agility & Process Improvement) - Slalom · Internship (Aug 2022 - Dec 2022 · 5 mos)

  • Senior Director ( Commanding and Special Projects Officer ) - United States Marine Corps (Jul 2021 - Aug 2022 · 1 yr 2 mos)

  • Distinguished National Security Fellow - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Jun 2020 - Jun 2021 · 1 yr 1 mo)

  • Senior Director ( Site Commander & Battalion Inspector-Instructor )  - 3d Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division (Jun 2018 - Jun 2020 · 2 yrs 1 mo)

  • Director (Regimental Executive Officer )  - 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division & Camp Schwab, Marine Corps Installations Pacific · Full-time (May 2017 - Jun 2018 · 1 yr 2 mos)

  • Specialist in Defense and Security ( Adjunct Faculty Professor ) - Marine Corps University · Part-time (Aug 2017 - May 2018 · 10 mos)

  • Director & Sales Specialist ( Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, American Embassy, NZ ) - U.S. Pacific Command · Full-time (Jun 2014 - May 2017 · 3 yrs)

  • Senior Manager & Sales Specialist ( Marine Corps Activities in Australia, NZ, & Oceania) - Marine Forces Pacific · Full-time (Feb 2012 - May 2014 · 2 yrs 4 mos)

• From LinkedIn - Education

  • Harvard Business School - PLD, HBS Executive MBA Alternative (Jul 2020 – Jun 2022)

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Fellow, International Relations and National Security Studies (Jun 2020 – Jun 2021)

Social Media Links: 

• Campaign Facebook - Posts starting September, 2026 all campaign related but last two regarding resources for those impacted by Norte fire.

• Campaign Instagram - four posts all campaign related

• LinkedIn - Regular posts, mostly reposts with comments

• Not found on Twitter; Threads; TikTok; Bluesky; youTube

Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

• Turning Point USA at Saddleback College

• Kira Davis - anti-LGBTQ extremist in Capo USD who led a harassment campaign against a transgender teacher that resulted in an actual, legitimate bomb threat being sent to that school that the police had to investigate. That teacher has since resigned.

• Carl DeMaio - conservative activist and politician who founded Reform California who expresses any LGBT and Trans views

• Rooted Wings - far-right extremist involved in Sonja Shaw’s network. 

• Eagle Forum - far-right organization

• US Border Patrol

• Sonja Shaw - CVUSD Board president, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate, EXTREME anti-LGBTQ

• Turning Point USA (National)

• Lincoln Club OC 

• Log Cabin OC (explicitly anti-trans)

• Brad McGirr, Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman - candidate expressing anti-trans views

• cali.maga.barbie - April Stone Silverman

• madison4oc - Madison Miner, Chair of Moms For Liberty OC

• sonjashaw2026 - Sonja Shaw, candidate for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction, EXTREMELY anti-LGBTQ

• America 250 OC

• Kate Sanchez, CA State Assemblywoman who has authored and sponsored anti-LGBTQ bills in the legislature

• National Faith Advisory Board, an explicitly Christian Nationalist organization that leads a network across the country and advises the Trump administration

Candidate’s Public Comments:

• On his campaign instagram on October 18th, he said, “My values are simple: Faith, Family, and Service to Country. They guided my 26 years in the Marine Corps, and they’ll guide my work for our students and taxpayers. I’m honored to be endorsed by all five members of the Orange County Board of Education, the @ocgop, @lincolncluboc, @logcabinoc, and others. 

As trustee, I’ll put students first, keep our campuses safe, protect every taxpayer dollar, and make sure our colleges teach skills, not ideology.” (x)

• John William Black, South Orange County Community College District Area 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire - By Kaitlyn Schallhorn | kschallhorn@scng.com - PUBLISHED: October 5, 2026 at 2:18 PM PDT

  • What are the top two needs of your college district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

    • In general, a college education can be very expensive; however, community colleges put a college education within reach for all students. At $46 per unit, community colleges offer a quality education at an affordable price.

South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) is fortunate to be funded by local property taxes as a basic aid district, not reliant on Sacramento for its general operations funding. This independence gives the board greater flexibility to fund infrastructure projects and its curriculum, and it positions SOCCCD to attract, hire, develop, and retain the best faculty. As a result, WalletHub ranks Saddleback College No. 1 in California and Irvine Valley College  No. 5 in California, and both are ranked in the top 25 schools nationally.

Our top two needs are clear: Keep education affordable and within reach for every student, and manage the district’s revenues and expenditures so this competitive advantage survives. That is the work I am prepared for: I managed Marine Corps programs worth up to $2.21 billion, taught and advised college students, and read budgets the way a homeowner would, because I am one. Disciplined stewardship will guarantee that students continue to have access to top-quality education at an affordable price.

• To you, what is the role of community college in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

  • I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. Unfortunately, it took me 15 years to pay off the loans. I remember what that debt felt like and the choices it cost me and my family, and I ran into plenty of people along the way who never finished college because it was too expensive. I don’t want people to have to go through what I went through.

A community college exists so that story doesn’t have to repeat. It makes education accessible and affordable. Community college sets students up for success, with a credible path to a well-paying career and a life of purpose, whether it runs through university transfer, a nursing or other professional license, a skilled trade, or service in law enforcement, fire, healthcare, or the military.

Today, community colleges also offer students a place not only to learn but to build an important social network on campus, along with critical paid internships and apprenticeships.

As for policy and curriculum: The Board of Trustees drives policy through high-level governance, and faculty drive curriculum. The board’s job is to align resources so faculty can deliver the best and most appropriate curriculum for students.

• In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

  • Yes. The Board of Trustees recently approved planning to provide affordable student housing on its campuses, at a current anticipated cost of roughly $180 million. Affordable student housing is a critical component that nearly every student needs.

In Orange County, housing rental costs are extremely high. The district intends to provide student housing at less than 20% of area median income. By making student housing extremely affordable, students can focus on their education instead of working multiple jobs to pay rent or commuting long distances.

The Board of Trustees and administration are reviewing a variety of financing options, following the district’s own funding sequence: state housing grants first, with a portion of basic aid property tax receipts and other infrastructure financing tools. I spent 26 years leading teams on critical missions in challenging environments, delivering large projects on time and on budget with someone else’s money, and seeking out funding opportunities. I know how projects slip, and how to keep them from slipping.

• What actions would you suggest to prevent a cyberattack similar to the Canvas data breach in May? How can your district ensure students’ information is safe? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

  • Start with an honest premise: The Canvas breach happened inside the vendor, not on any campus. All 116 California community colleges run Canvas and were affected by the cybersecurity data breach.

The district’s technology leadership is already proactive. It recently invested in additional cybersecurity technology to further prevent data breaches and fraudulent enrollment.

My suggested actions target the vendor door the attackers used. I would add security requirements and breach notification to every vendor contract, give vendors only the student data they need, verify compliance with independent assessments, and drill the response before it is needed.

Fraudulent enrollment is one of the major problems facing California’s community colleges. Fake students and AI bots sign up through the admissions process and enroll in classes, taking legitimate seats from actual students and stealing financial aid. In a single recent year, scammers stole more than $13 million in federal and state financial aid statewide, and at the peak, roughly one in three applications was flagged as suspicious.

I’m a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and the FBI’s InfraGard partnership, and I’ve spent a career protecting people and systems. Security is a standing obligation, not a crisis response.

• How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

  • AI is already in the classroom. Google put Gemini and NotebookLM in front of 2 million students and faculty statewide, and the Chancellor’s Office issued safety guidance this spring. The question isn’t whether to allow it, but whether we govern it or let it govern us.

Expand it where it builds capability: midnight tutoring for a working student, practice questions for a nursing candidate, robot programming for a machinist, and readiness for a workforce that already uses these tools. I use AI daily. It’s a strong assistant and a poor substitute for judgment.

Limit it where it erodes what college exists to build: thinking, writing, and defending a position. No AI should grade a student’s work without a human reading it. No student data should feed a tool the district hasn’t vetted. Every syllabus should say plainly what’s allowed; a rule students can’t find isn’t a rule.

The board sets policy, not pedagogy; faculty decide how AI fits their courses. Our district wrote AI guidelines for employees. Students deserve the same protections in board policy, with a published list of vetted tools and published results, so nobody learns less because a machine did the work.

• How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

  • You can’t effectively teach civil discourse from a slide deck. Students learn it by practicing it: structured, supervised, and face-to-face with people who see the world differently.

The best model I’ve seen is Braver Angels, built on the rule that both sides show up in equal numbers. Its College Debates and Discourse Alliance, run with BridgeUSA and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, puts students on their feet wrestling with real contested questions, then requires them to listen, reflect, and disagree accurately without contempt.

I want our district to bring Braver Angels-style debates to Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College, inviting students, faculty, and residents into the same room. The Board of Trustees’ role is to level-set expectations and create an environment that is welcoming to all students, regardless of their personal beliefs or political ideologies.

I served 26 years with Americans and allies of every political stripe. Disagreement never stopped us from finishing the mission. Our students deserve that same training: courage, humility, discipline, dignity, and respect.

• What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

  • I joined the Marine Corps in 1996, after college, and served for 26 years. I commanded an 841-person security and emergency services battalion and managed programs worth up to $2.21 billion. I’ve also taught and advised college students, helped write and refine grants, and built veteran suicide-prevention partnerships across Orange County. I’m a first-generation graduate who took 15 years to pay off student loans. I know what a tuition bill feels like. As a trustee, I want to ensure current students don’t graduate with insurmountable debt.

My priorities: Disciplined finances, more Area 4 families in the Promise and Emeritus programs that already exist, campuses that are physically and digitally safe, and a credible career pathway for every student.

Leadership taught me a few things. Meet people where they are, and treat everyone with dignity and respect. Listen to understand, not to reply. Get clear on the mission, then align every dollar and every hour to what matters most. When new information arrives, adjust; a plan that ignores changing conditions is a liability. And no one succeeds alone. A district of nearly 70,000 students works only when trustees, the chancellor, faculty, staff, and the community pull together.

• If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

  • A pack mule.

The Marine Corps still teaches mule packing in the Sierra because when the roads end and the helicopters can’t fly, a mule gets the supplies up the mountain and the wounded back down. Nobody puts a mule on a recruiting poster. It just does the work.

That’s the kind of trustee I want to be. A mule carries more than its share without complaint. It’s sure-footed on bad ground, which is useful when you’re managing a budget of nearly $1 billion a year, when expenses outrun revenue. It’s stubborn about the right things: It won’t step off a cliff because someone in a hurry told it to. And it’s patient enough to walk beside people who are still finding their footing, which is what a community college does for a first-generation student, a veteran coming home, or a parent going back to finish a degree.

• Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

  • “Higher Love” by Kit DesLauriers.

My wife and I met Kit this summer at the Veterans Talking to Veterans Stronger Together Summit in Dubois, Wyoming, and read the book afterward. In 2006, Kit became the first person to climb, then ski, the highest peak on every continent, finishing on Everest with her husband beside her. What stayed with me isn’t the skiing. It’s how she pursues excellence. Kit is candid about fear, asking for help, and paying her own way when nobody was handing out money. She treats risk as something you manage with judgment and good partners, not something you pretend away. And the summit is only half the job. The descent, where you’re tired and margins are thin, is where people get hurt.

I read it as a mountaineer and man of faith who has stood on high places and felt small, and as a husband whose best climbs were never solo. Both keep a person honest at altitude and in office. The book is a hero’s journey. So is every student’s adventure. Getting them in is the climb. Getting them through, safely and whole, is the descent. Finish what you start, with people you love beside you.

Endorsed by: 

• Nancy’s Picks - Nancy’s Picks (far-right voter guide in Orange County, whose criteria for endorsement include “PRO-LIFE & PROTECTIONS for the UNBORN”, “PRO-SANCTITY of HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE”, “PRO-PARENTAL RIGHTS in EDUCATION”, “PRO-NUCLEAR FAMILY”, “SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL and IT’S RIGHT to EXIST”, “SECURE & SEAL OUR BORDERS”, and more. 

• Moms on the Ground — California parental-rights advocacy group that has worked in coalition with Moms for Liberty and other organizations promoting parental-rights and school-choice/charter-school policies. (momsonthegroundca, Moms for Liberty)

• Reform California - (far-right organization led by Carl DeMaio)

• Some from Campaign site - see for more:

  • Log Cabin Republicans of Orange County (explicitly anti-trans group)

  • Lincoln Club of Orange County

  • Republican Party of Orange County

Candidate in the News:

• None found outside the questionnaire above

Public Voting Record:

• None found, has not held office yet

Follow the Money: 

• From netfile.com - only listing those for $1k or more,, search site for more:

  • John Black - paid to John Black - 08/31/2026 $1,800.00

  • John Black - paid to Victory Fundraising and Events - 9/05/2026 $1,500.00

  • John Black - paid to John Black - 08/20/2026 $1,400.00

  • John Black - paid to John Black - 10/05/2026 $1,200.00

  • John Black - paid to CAMPAIGN FOR MENTAL HEALTH - YESON63.ORG - COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, FAMILIES, AND CONSUMERS, AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FUNDING - 09/29/2004 $1,100.00

  • John Black - paid to John Black - 08/26/2026 $1,020.00

  • John Black - paid to Lysa Ray Campaign Services - 08/24/2026 $1,000.00

  • John Williams - paid to John Black - 10/09/2026 $1,000.00

South OC Community College District Area 4 Candidate

Candidate Statement:

“KARIMA FELDHUS | AGE: 62 | Executive Dean

It is an honor to seek your vote for the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees.

For more than 30 years, I have dedicated my career to public higher education. I have had the privilege of serving as a dean at both Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College, working alongside faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners to expand educational opportunities and strengthen our colleges.

As Executive Dean of Extended Learning at Saddleback College, I oversee programs that provide lifelong learning, workforce training, adult education, and community education to thousands of students each year. I have managed multimillion-dollar budgets, secured grant funding, and developed partnerships that prepare students for meaningful careers while meeting local workforce needs.

As your trustee, I will promote academic excellence, student success, fiscal responsibility, and accountability. I believe public service means listening, making thoughtful decisions, respecting

diverse perspectives, and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. My commitment is to preserve the district’s tradition of excellence while expanding opportunities that benefit students, employees, employers, and our community.

I bring experience, integrity, and a collaborative approach to governance. I would be honored to earn your trust and your vote.”

Email: karimafortrustee@gmail.com 

Campaign Website: https://karimafortrustee.com/ 

Priorities: 

• Put students first and protect academic excellence

• Safeguard precious taxpayer dollars through accountability and responsible stewardship

• Keep our colleges affordable and accessible

• Support outstanding faculty and staff

• Strengthen career and workforce pathways

• Expand opportunities for students at every stage of life

• Provide independent, experienced leadership focused on results

Any Other Interesting Info:

• 2026 Ballotpedia survey responses

• From LinkedIn - Experience

  • Academic Administrator - Saddleback College · Full-time (Oct 2016 - Present · 10 yrs 1 mo)

  • Dean of Liberal Arts and AANAPISI - Irvine Valley College (Nov 2015 - Sep 2016 · 11 mos)

  • Irvine Valley College - 7 yrs 2 mos

    • Dean, Humanities and Languages, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Library Services - Jan 2009 - Aug 2015 · 6 yrs 8 mos

    • Dean of Business Science and Fine Arts - Jul 2008 - Dec 2008 · 6 mos

  • Dean of Business and Social Sciences - Long Beach City College (Nov 2007 - Jun 2008 · 8 mos)

  • Dean of the Schools of Humanities & Languages and Fine Arts - Irvine Valley College (Jan 2005 - Oct 2007 · 2 yrs 10 mos)

  • Associate Dean of Fine Arts and Language Arts - San Jacinto College (Jul 2002 - Jan 2005 · 2 yrs 7 mos)

  • Director of the Language Acquisition Center - University of Houston (1998 – 2002)

  • Instructional Technology Specialist/Director of the Modern Languages Lab - St. Mary's College of Maryland (1997 – 1998)

  • Assistant Professor - Emporia State University (Aug 1995 - Dec 1997 · 2 yrs 5 mos)

  • Assistant Professor - Ecole normale supérieure de Kouba (Oct 1987 - Aug 1990 · 2 yrs 11 mos)

• LinkedIn - Education

  • The University of Kansas - Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction

  • The University of Kansas - Master's degree, Linguistics

  • University of Algiers - Bachelor's degree, ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS

Social Media Links: 

• Campaign Facebook - Regular posts starting August 2026 - all are campaign related messaging

• Personal Facebook - Regular posts starting October 2022 - mix of personal, career and campaign 

• Personal Instagram - Posts starting January, 2016 - personal topics, most recently about campaigning 

• Personal Threads - No activity or private account

• Personal TikTok - Account is private

• Campaign YouTube - 13 Videos

• LinkedIn - Continuous and regular posts for years

• Not found on Twitter; Bluesky; 

Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

• Stephanie Oddo - running for Laguna Niguel City Council

• Brad McGirr, Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman

• U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren

• Kamala Harris

• barackobama - Barack Obama

• geoffbaumforpcc - Geoff Baum for PCC Board

• cagovernor - Governor Gavin Newsom

Candidate’s Public Comments:

• Karima Feldhus, South Orange County Community College District Area 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire - By Kaitlyn Schallhorn | kschallhorn@scng.com - PUBLISHED: October 5, 2026 at 2:19 PM PDT

  • What are the top two needs of your college district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

  • The two most important needs of our district are preparing students for a changing economy and protecting the long-term financial strength of our colleges.

First, Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College must continue preparing students for transfer, good jobs, career advancement, and lifelong learning. AI and technology are changing the workplace quickly, and our colleges need to stay ahead of those changes. That means listening to employers, strengthening partnerships, and making sure our programs give students the education and skills they need to succeed.

Second, we must remain fiscally strong. I believe every precious taxpayer dollar should support our educational mission and benefit students. Board decisions should be transparent, based on good data, and made with an understanding of their long-term impact.

I am prepared to address both because I have spent 21 years serving Saddleback and Irvine Valley colleges. I know our programs, budgets, operations, students, and communities. I have developed programs, managed large budgets, and built partnerships that open doors for students. As a trustee, I would bring that experience to every decision and always ask: Does this strengthen our colleges and create better opportunities for students?

• To you, what is the role of community college in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

• Community colleges are essential to providing accessible, affordable education and creating pathways to universities, careers, and lifelong learning. They serve students at every stage of life, from recent high school graduates and working adults to career changers and older adults.

For a governing board, the role is to set clear policy and strategic direction, ensure fiscal responsibility, and hold the district accountable for serving students and the community. Trustees should ask tough questions, examine outcomes, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely. They should not micromanage curriculum or day-to-day college operations. Curriculum belongs primarily with faculty through established academic and shared-governance processes.

Having spent 21 years in leadership at Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College, I understand the important distinction between governance and administration. As a trustee, I would focus on the big picture: protecting access and affordability, supporting excellent academic and workforce programs, maintaining strong fiscal stewardship, and ensuring our colleges continue adapting to the changing needs of students, employers, and the communities we serve.

• In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• I strongly support the Board of Trustees’ decision to move forward with student housing at Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College. As a trustee, my goal would be clear: make housing an affordable pathway to student success while protecting taxpayers and our colleges’ core educational mission.

Housing should prioritize students with demonstrated financial need or housing insecurity who are pursuing degrees, certificates, transfer, and career education pathways. In Orange County, housing costs can be a significant barrier to completing college. Affordable student housing can provide the stability students need to remain enrolled and complete their education.

As a trustee, I would insist on clear and equitable eligibility criteria, realistic financial projections, transparent costs, and ongoing accountability. Success should be measured not simply by the number of beds provided, but by whether housing helps students stay in school, complete their education, transfer, and move into good careers.

Tax dollars are precious, and every major investment must demonstrate value to students and the public. Our primary mission is education. I would move student housing forward in a fiscally responsible and sustainable way while protecting funding for instruction, academic programs, and essential student services.

• What actions would you suggest to prevent a cyberattack similar to the Canvas data breach in May? How can your district ensure students’ information is safe? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Protecting student information must be a fundamental responsibility of the district. In my 21 years of leadership at Saddleback and Irvine Valley colleges, I have seen how dependent our students, faculty, and staff have become on technology and how important it is to protect the information entrusted to us. Cybersecurity is not simply an IT issue; it is an institutional responsibility.

The district must maintain strong cybersecurity standards, including multi-factor authentication, regular security updates and assessments, secure data backups, employee training, and appropriate access controls. We also rely on outside technology providers, so our contracts must hold vendors accountable for protecting student data and promptly reporting breaches.

Just as important, we need a regularly tested response plan so that if a breach occurs, the district can act quickly, communicate clearly, and assist those affected.

As a trustee, I would expect regular reporting on cybersecurity risks, preparedness, vendor compliance, and response planning. I have spent much of my career working with budgets, technology implementation, compliance, and institutional operations. I understand that good governance means asking questions before problems occur, investing wisely in prevention, and making the protection of student information an ongoing priority.

• How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing education and the workplace. Our responsibility is to prepare students for that reality while protecting academic integrity, critical thinking, privacy, and the human interaction that is central to learning.

AI should be expanded when it enhances learning; for example, helping students explore ideas, receive appropriate tutoring support, develop workplace skills, analyze information, or learn how AI is being used in their chosen professions. Students should graduate knowing how to use these tools responsibly and how to evaluate their accuracy and limitations.

At the same time, AI should not replace a student’s own thinking, writing, problem-solving, or creativity. Its use should be limited when it undermines the learning objectives of an assignment, compromises academic integrity, exposes confidential information, or substitutes technology for meaningful interaction with faculty.

I do not believe a governing board should dictate classroom-by-classroom use of AI. Faculty should establish appropriate academic standards and guardrails within their disciplines, supported by clear district policies on privacy, security, ethics, and academic integrity. The goal should be responsible innovation: embracing useful technology while preserving the quality and integrity of education.

• How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Community colleges should be places where students feel comfortable expressing their views, listening to different perspectives, and learning from one another. We do not have to agree on every issue, but we should be able to disagree respectfully.

I have seen the value of this through my work with Saddleback College’s Emeritus Institute. Our older adult students bring tremendous life and professional experience to the classroom. They have lived through different periods of history, raised families, built careers, and contributed to their communities. There is a great deal our younger students can learn from them, and they can learn from younger generations as well. I would like to see more opportunities for that kind of intergenerational exchange.

We can also encourage civil discourse through student forums, moderated discussions, guest speakers with different perspectives, and activities that teach students to evaluate information, question assumptions, and distinguish facts from opinions.

As a trustee, I would support free expression and respectful dialogue. I do not believe our colleges should tell students what to think. Our role is to educate them, expose them to different ideas, and give them the critical thinking skills to reach their own informed conclusions.

• What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

• Community colleges open doors. I know firsthand what this opportunity means. As a first-generation college student, I worked entry-level jobs while putting myself through school and raising a family. I understand students balancing education, work, family, and financial responsibilities because I have walked in their shoes.

For 21 years at Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College, I have dedicated my career to creating opportunities for others. At IVC, as dean of multiple schools, I supported students pursuing transfer, academic achievement, and careers.

At Saddleback, I lead Extended Learning programs serving diverse communities. Our Emeritus Institute serves more than 5,000 older adults. Adult Education provides high school equivalency and English-language pathways to education and employment. Through OASIS, adults with disabilities develop independent living and workforce skills, including training at Kaiser Permanente. Foster and Kinship Care Education supports Orange County families. Eight years leading Extended Learning have deepened my understanding of our communities’ diverse needs.

This is what community colleges do best: meet people where they are and open doors to opportunity. After serving our colleges and communities, I feel called to continue that service as a trustee. My knowledge of our district and the people we serve has prepared me to lead at the Board level, with fiscal responsibility, accountability, and a focus on student success.

• If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

• I would probably choose an owl. Owls represent wisdom and experience, which I think are important qualities for a trustee.

After spending more than 30 years working in education, I’ve learned that you don’t always need to be the loudest person in the room. Sometimes you need to listen, pay attention, ask good questions, and then make the best decision you can.

And an owl seems appropriate for a college district. It represents learning and knowledge, and it keeps its eyes open. I plan to do the same, especially when it comes to how we spend taxpayer dollars.

Plus, I just like owls!

• Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

• The best book I’ve read this year is “The Geography of Bliss” by Eric Weiner, which I read as part of Saddleback College’s One Book, One College program.

I enjoyed his exploration of happiness across different cultures and especially his focus on community, belonging, purpose, and human connection. These ideas resonated with me because I see every day in education how important it is for people to feel connected and have a sense of purpose. I also had the pleasure of meeting Eric during his visit to Saddleback and continuing our conversation over coffee at Peet’s Café. That made the book even more meaningful to me and left me thinking about what makes both a fulfilling life and a strong community.

Endorsed by: 

• From campaign site - see site for more:

  • Dr. Dixie Bullock - Retired College President · Acting SOCCCD Chancellor

    • Dean of Health Sciences and Nursing Professor

  • Carolyn Inmon - President, South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees

  • Paul Medina - Former Member, California Community Colleges Board of Governors and Calbright College Board of Trustees

Candidate in the News:

• None found outside of Social Media posts

Public Voting Record:

• None found, has not held office yet

Follow the Money: 

• From netfile.com 

  • Karima for Trustee 2026 - paid to COPS Voter Guide, Inc. - 08/24/2026 $2,534.00

  • Karima Feldhus for SOCCD Trustee 2026 - paid to COPS Voter Guide, Inc. - 08/24/2026 $2,534.00