Greetings, San Bernardino Valley College! 

 

I spent the weekend in Sacramento at the CCLC Effective Trusteeship Workshop and the CCLC Legislative Conference. It was an honor to join Chancellor Diana Rodriguez, CHC President Kevin Horan, Jose Torres, Angel Rodriguez, Ynez Canela, and members of our Board of Trustees. On Monday, we met with our state representatives advancing SBCCD legislative priorities. We are very fortunate to have sound leadership in SBCCD!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to see our Women’s Softball team in action. Our Wolverines earned the victory against Imperial Valley College, 12-10. Congratulations to Head Coach Kendra Mendoza, our assistant coaches, and our team!

Some highlights for this week: 

 

  1. PELL GRANT SUPPORT INCREASES (A huge success for the Valley Up Initiative and Student-Centered Funding Formula)

THANK YOU to our financial aid team, who continue to “advance community” and expand “opportunities for all.” San Bernardino Valley College increased the number of students receiving financial aid, with incredible improvements seen in Fall 2025 and continued success in Spring 2026. Spring 2026 Pell Grant disbursements increased by more than 22%, serving 23% more students than Spring 2025, and resulting in over $3.6 million awarded to 3,301 students. This growth reflects our commitment to expanding access to financial aid. Special thanks to our Interim Director, Rosario Esparza, and our classified professionals in Financial Aid for a job well done! Students benefit when we lead with love! 

 

  1. SWIPE INTO SPRING: TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026

Yesterday on the Greek Theatre walkway, San Bernardino Valley College hosted “Swipe Into Spring” to promote student engagement. I want to thank all of our student clubs, advisors, and facilities teams for creating such a vibrant atmosphere for our students.  It was inspiring to see students connect with each other, learn about campus clubs and Associated Student Government, pick up free giveaways, and ease back into campus life. Special thanks to Marie Maghuyop, Dean Ray Carlos, and Interim Director Marwin Luminarias, along with the Student Life team for all of their hard work. 

 

  1. PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE CABINET AND FACULTY LEADERSHIP EXPLORE VISION FOR SBVC MULTICULTURAL CENTER

As shared at College Council December 11, 2025, SBVC is collaborating with Inspire School Services and Dr. Keenon Mitchell to advance the vision and implementation of the San Bernardino Valley College Multicultural Center. Yesterday, Dr. Mitchell facilitated an initial meeting with President’s Executive Cabinet and members of Academic Senate leadership. He laid out a robust agenda to engage campus leadership, constituent groups, and affinity groups as we define the focus of our Multicultural Center. We will work with the campus community to help transition cultural programming from the affinity groups to the College as well as design appropriate staffing, services, and deliverables for the center. Please continue to follow College Council updates as this work progresses.

 

  1. SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN WEEK 2: WOLVERINE SUCCESS GUIDE

The Spring 2026 Wolverine Success Guide is now live at valleycollege.edu/wolverinesuccess, and Week 2 focuses on self-reflection, confidence, and building successful habits early. 

This is a great week to encourage students to: 

· Check email and Canvas daily 

· Review grades early and often 

· Create daily or weekly to-do lists 

· Reach out to instructors, counselors, or tutors sooner rather than later 

I encourage employees to reference the Wolverine Success Guide in conversations with students, in class announcements, advising sessions, and informal check-ins. A small reminder at the right moment can make a lasting difference. 

 

  1. CENTENNIAL PODCAST PREMIERES! 

SBVC alumnus Dr. Thomas Robles with the Department of Marketing, Creative Services & Public Affairs, in partnership with our FTVM department, is leading a podcast series celebrating our centennial year. I am truly honored to be featured in the first episode of our new SBVC Centennial Podcast. The podcast will share stories behind our 100 years of impact, featuring conversations with those who helped shape Valley College and those leading us into the next century. The first episode is live on YouTube and Spotify. Watch our social media platforms for upcoming episode releases!

 

  1. MEN’S BASKETBALL CONTINUES DOMINANCE 

The SBVC men's basketball team opened the second round of Inland Empire Athletic Conference play with an impressive 123-71 victory over Victor Valley. The Wolverines scored 72 points in the second half, the third-most points scored in the second half of a game in school history. It was also the second time this month the Wolverines scored more than 70 points in the second half of a game -- they scored 74 (second-most all-time) in a 112-73 win over College of the Desert. The school record for points in the second half of a game is 77, set in 1991. SBVC is undefeated in IEAC play with seven games remaining. Let’s rally behind Coach Quincy Brewer, the coaching staff, and our team as we gear up for another playoff run!

 

  1. BLACK HISTORY MONTH BRUNCH: FEBRUARY 4, 2026

There will be a special brunch to kick off Black History Month at 11 AM Wednesday, February 4, 2026 in the Applied Technology Showroom. We will honor colleagues for their leadership, service and community impact while enjoying good food and live jazz. I want to thank everyone who contributed to our robust Black History Month calendar of events, especially our teammates in BFSA. Space is limited, so please RSVP here. 

 

  1. MICHAEL RAMIREZ NAMED MEN’S CC ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR 

Congratulations to Michael Ramirez for being named the 2025 Men’s Cross Country Assistant Coach of the Year by the California Community College Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association. Coach Ramirez just completed his second year as an assistant to his former head coach, Jim Ratigan (the legendary Jim Ratigan!). He ran cross country and track for the Wolverines from 2017-19, earning All-American honors in both sports. He also serves as an assistant with the SBVC track and field team, focusing on developing the team’s distance runners. Congrats, Michael! 

  

  1. CAMPUS CLOSED FOR LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY 

A reminder that the campus is closed Friday, February 6, 2026 for Lincoln’s birthday. Enjoy the three-day weekend! 

 

  1. CENTENNIAL MOMENTS CONTINUE 

As we continue celebrating 100 years with 100 events, our marketing team is capturing the lived centennial experience through photos, videos, and weekly recaps. These moments reflect the heart of Valley College -- our people, our students, and our community. You can watch the latest Centennial Moments on SBVC’s YouTube channel. 

 

  1. WHAT DOES ‘VALLEY UP’ MEAN TO YOU?

We continue to invite students, employees, alumni, and community members to share what “Valley Up” means to them. Short video reflections are being collected and shared as part of our centennial storytelling. Submit your response at Valley Up! — San Bernardino Valley College. 

 

 Let’s have an amazing week 2 at SBVC!

Valley Up! 

  Gil