Greetings, San Bernardino Valley College!

It is Spring Break at San Bernardino Valley College and along with the break we enjoy a signature IE heat wave. Yesterday, we celebrated the topping off ceremony for the Student Services Building as well as 336 days without an injury on the worksite. I want to thank Chancellor Dr. Diana Z. Rodriguez, Vice Chancellor Dr. Nohemy Ornelas, Trustee Dr. Nathan Gonzales and Trustee Dr. Stephanie Houston as well as hundreds of Wolverines for participating in this event. Special thanks to VPAS Keith Bacon and Barbara Bray—Barbara has done a stellar job leading our centennial events! I also want to thank a good number of faculty who came in support (even during Spring Break).

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the San Bernardino City Council will honor Valley College during the City Council meeting and officially declare March 26, 2026 Valley College Day! Special thanks to Mayor Helen Tran, who also sits on the SBVC Foundation Board.

On Thursday, I will be attending the CEO Symposium in San Diego, California by the Community College League of California on March 19-21, 2026. VPI Leticia Hector will be administrator in charge.

Some highlights for this week:

CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH WITH TWO EVENTS

Celebrate Women’s History Month with two events on campus this month.

On March 23, 2026, 11:30 AM-2:00 PM in the Auditorium, Sonia Rezkalah, one of the Freedom Writer students from Long Beach, will speak. There will also be highlights of women’s achievements across our organization and opportunities to connect. Please RSVP here.

On March 25, 2026, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in B-100 there will be a special event focused on self-compassion, connection, and personal growth. The gathering will feature a guest speaker, reflection and discussion, and ways women can support each other. Please RSVP here. Thanks to Naomi Lara, Brooke Quinones, and everyone else organizing these meaningful events.

HELP SHAPE OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS—FEEDBACK DUE MARCH 31, 2026

The Accreditation and Outcomes Committee would love your feedback on our Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) draft! You can help ensure all major initiatives, programs, data, and outcomes are included. Special thanks to VPI Leticia Hector and Faculty Lead Jeremiah Gilbert as well as the entire team working on our accreditation. Feedback is due March 31, 2026 at the link above. We appreciate your thoughts!

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PANEL MARCH 23, 2026

KVCR Studios is hosting Beyond Valley, a panel with San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, Mayor Emeritus Deborah Robertson, and Benito Vargas 12:00-2 PM Monday, March 23, 2026. The event will promote civic engagement before, between and beyond voting. I hope you can make it for this important discussion!

ABILITYCON IS MARCH 25, 2026

Celebrate access, inclusion, and innovation at Student Accessibility Services’ AbilityCon March 25, 2026, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in the Campus Center walkway. SAS will offer resources, prizes, food, giveaways and live music. Please check it out!

CELEBRATE SBVC’S BIRTHDAY MARCH 26, 2026

You’re invited to enjoy cake to celebrate San Bernardino Valley College’s 100th anniversary! Cake for the Campus is March 26, 12:00-2:00 PM in the Lois Carson Campus Center walkway. We’ll gather for a historic “100” photo on the lawn at 12:45 PM. We will also sing happy birthday to Valley College. Hope to celebrate with you there!

CENTENNIAL GALA IS NEXT WEEK! The SBVC Foundation has worked tirelessly over the past year to prepare for the event of the century – our Centennial Gala. This private celebration will honor the college’s remarkable 100-year legacy and raise critical funds and awareness to ensure its continued impact for the next century. The evening will recognize the visionaries, educators, alumni, donors, elected officials, and community partners whose unwavering support has sustained SBVC’s mission. Many thanks to the foundation and the gala committee, including co-chairs Gloria Macias Harrison and Dr. Yolanda Moses, for all their hard work on this epic event.

VOTING INFO AVAILABLE EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THE LIBRARY

Every Wednesday, our colleagues in the library Maria Notarangelo and Tim Hosford and intern Kelly Erazo help the Valley College community connect with their elected representatives. From 12:00 to 12:15 PM, stop by the SBVC Votes table in front of the library for tips, apps, and conversation about contacting local, state, and federal representatives. Visit the library’s Civic Engagement guide for information.

AERONAUTICS STUDENTS COMPETE IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

SBVC aeronautics students competed in the Aerospace Maintenance Council’s maintenance competition at VERTICON aviation convention in Atlanta last week. They competed against professionals and other students in maintenance challenges that included precision tasks and troubleshooting. Congratulations to our students and thanks to aeronautics chair Francisco Gonzalez and his department for training the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals.

CATCH UP ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING AT VALLEY COLLEGE

Our monthly board report was shared with the SBCCD Board of Trustees at their March 12, 2026 meeting. Read all about what’s been happening on campus and catch up on previous editions here. Valley Up!

NEW CENTENNIAL PODCAST EPISODE

The newest episode in our new centennial podcast series features longtime faculty member Dr. Susan Bangasser. The podcast shares stories behind our 100 years of impact, featuring conversations with those who helped shape Valley College and those leading us into the next century. Watch and listen to the podcast on YouTube and Spotify.

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.

SHARE A CENTENNIAL MEMORY

We’ve been inviting students, employees, alumni, and community members to share their memories during our centennial year. Please submit your reflections at SBVC Historic Highlights.