CVHEC SUMMIT 2025 NEWS: California Attorney General Rob Bonta to update Valley’s college chancellors, presidents

SUMMIT UPDATES: •2025 CVHEC Summit Program FlipBook   •Summit 2025 panelist bios  •News release: CVHEC Summit 2025 panels

NOTE: Registration  is now closed.

Panelists announced for CVHEC Summit May 9;

Congress, State Legislature reps to address funding cuts

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications/Media Coordinator

(May 7, 2025 — FRESNO, CA) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta will address the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Summit 2025 Friday, May 9, in Fresno during a Zoom session, “Higher Education & Justice: A Virtual Forum,” where he will discuss with the heads of the valley’s university and colleges the litigation that he and a coalition of state attorneys general have initiated challenging Trump Administration executive orders affecting higher education.

Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, announced today that Attorney General Bonta will connect at 2 p.m. via Zoom with the chancellors, presidents and campus directors who make up the CVHEC Board of Directors and other participants at the summit which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel  (2233 Cesar Chavez Blvd.).

Prior to Bonta’s talk, Congressmembers Jim Costa (21st District) and Adam Gray (13th District) and California State Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (District 27) will present in-person updates at 12:30 p.m. regarding the elected officials’ efforts to address such issues as federal funding cuts and student concerns amidst deportation and other immigration actions by the Administration that took office in January.

In the opening morning panel, top administrators representing California’s four systems of higher education: California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, will discuss the current state of affairs and strategies within their respective systems at 9:15 a.m. to kick off the event’s five panel discussions.

Under the theme “Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way,” the summit will convene 175 educators, legislators, policy makers, community members and higher education professionals from throughout the valley’s 10-county region as well as from throughout the state and nation.

Duran also announced that registration for the free event, supported by event sponsor College Futures Foundation, reached capacity and is now closed.

CVHEC also recently announced names of other panelists for the summit including valley higher education leaders that serve on the consortium board who will be panel moderators and provide introductions of the panelists.

Duran said the annual summit takes on special significance this year with major changes occurring and he expects critical deliberation between political, community and education leaders in attendance.

“With the dismantling of the Department of Education and wholesale severance of federal funds, higher education now faces perhaps its biggest challenge in the nation’s history,” said Durán.

“Now, as massive ongoing policy and program changes hit, we find it imperative that our region’s university and college leaders deliberate critically but thoughtfully with legislators, policy makers and other educators in general to share our perspectives in search of concrete solutions for the benefit of our student populations. We must act judiciously.”

He said the 2025 summit, with leaders from the state’s higher ed systems collaborating with the federal and state legislators sets the stage for this interaction.

Duran also is superintendent/president-emeritus of Merced College, serving that tenure from 1998-2012 before he became the consortium executive director in 2015. He also served on the CVHEC Board when he was Merced College president.

The Attorney General’s office said Bonta will update the valley’s college leaders on his latest efforts “to hold the Trump Administration accountable to the law and protect our students and higher education institutions.”

Since President Trump took office for a second term, the Attorney General has filed lawsuits “challenging the unlawful mass firing at the U.S. Department of Education, the unlawful termination of education grants, unlawful NIH funding cuts that impact universities and research institutions, and the unlawful attempt to freeze nearly $3 trillion in nationwide federal funding.”

He and a coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief last month “challenging the Trump Administration’s executive orders allowing for the ideologically-motivated revocation of visas for students and faculty who exercise their free speech and association rights.”

The Attorney General has also proactively published information on immigrant rights and protections in California, including the right to an education.

Attorney General Bonta, who became the state’s 34th Attorney General in 2021, has led statewide fights for racial, economic and environmental justice and worked to further the rights of immigrant families, renters, and working Californians. He previously worked as a deputy city attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, served as an Alameda Council Member and represented Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro in the California State Assembly. Bonta is the first person of Filipino descent to occupy the position.

“For so many, higher education is a key that opens doors to vibrant careers and unlocks access to the California Dream,” the Attorney General said about his address to the Central Valley’s higher education leaders and community.

“As the Trump Administration attacks colleges and universities that do not blindly fall in line with their demands, we must do all we can to defend, protect and invest in institutes of higher learning so they fulfill their role of inspiring future generations of leaders. From advancing scientific research to training school teachers to opening minds, encouraging freedom of speech and educating students, our colleges and universities play a critical role in our communities and our democracy.

“As Attorney General of California, I am proud to uplift and support the many colleges and universities that help make California great,” Bonta said.

The panelists

The summit will open at 9 a.m. with a board welcome by Dr. Juan Muñoz, UC Merced chancellor and chair of the CVHEC Board of Directors, followed by Durán reviewing the summit agenda.

The keynote panel, “Stronger Together: Aligning Systems for Equitable Outcomes,” from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., will be moderated by State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith after CSU Stanislaus President Britt Rios-Ellis introduces the panel:

  • Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, California Community Colleges deputy chancellor;
  • Nathan Dietrich, California State University assistant vice chancellor of University Relations and Advancement;
  • Yvette Gullatt, University of California vice president for Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs, vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and chief diversity officer;
  • Alex Graves, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities vice president for Government Relations.

A panel featuring student testimony, “In Their Words: Real Students Talking about Central Valley Strategies,” follows from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. facilitated by Lemoore College President James Preston. Columbia College President Lena Tran will introduce the student panelists.

The student panelists are two college students: Aracelli Tilley, Merced College and UC Merced, and Zeidi Diaz, Fresno State; and three Dinuba High School students: Abigail M. Soto Toscano, Izabella Cavazos and McKenzie Rosas.

The third panel, “Data at Every Level: Sharing National, State, and Local Insights,” will be moderated by Merced College President Chris Vitelli.  Coalinga College President Carla Tweed will introduce the panelists:

After lunch, the legislative update panel, “The Path Forward: Higher Ed Policy and the New Administration,” from 1 – 1:45 p.m. will be moderated by Chancellor Muñoz after Porterville College President Primavera Monarrez introduces the panelists serving in the United States Congress and the State Legislature.

The final panel before the closing session, “What the CVHEC is Happening in the Central Valley,” from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. will be moderated by Durán after Fresno Pacific University President André Stephens introduces the panelists:

  • Dr. James Zimmerman, UC Merced, will discuss the Central Valley Transfer Project with an update since its designation as a California Community Colleges Demonstration Projectwas announced at the 2023 CVHEC Summit.
  • Dr. Kristin Clark, CVHEC Dual Enrollment lead, will discuss dual enrollment models; data showing how the Central Valley leads the state; and the CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Project’s collaboration with K-16 partners and how 250 high school teachers are projected by 2026 to earn the graduate degree required to teach dual enrollment courses at their respective campuses.
  • Dr. Lynn Cevallos, president/founder of College Bridge, will discuss the Central Valley Math Bridgeproject in partnership with CVHEC community college members and K-16 partners.

For the summit’s Closing Comments session, “Where Do We Go from Here?” from 2:30 to 3 p.m., Durán will discuss plans for a regional data project and a campaign to support former students seeking to complete degree requirements, the Central Valley Reconnect Project.

“The CVHEC summit will provide our panelists and participants alike the opportunity to share their thoughts on these tumultuous times and help lay foundation to unite for formidable action,” Duran said. “This year’s CVHEC summit attendees will leave with a good understanding of the work Central Valley higher education institutions have been doing.”

The CVHEC board also will hold a quarterly meeting the day before followed by the CVHEC Welcome Reception from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Thursday, May 8) for registered summit participants featuring the Fresno State Latin Jazz Ensemble.

ABOUT CVHEC

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is a California non-profit made up of institutions of higher education in the ten-county region from San Joaquin to Kern that is the size of some states. Through CVHEC, higher education professionals and academicians in the Central Valley address difficult and complex initiatives, scaling them up across the region for mutual effectiveness to serve our students and communities.  

CVHEC SUMMIT 2025 RECEPTION: Fresno State Latin Jazz Combo

The Fresno State Latin Jazz Ensemble that will perform at the CVHEC Summit May 8 consists of (from left) students Remy Cottrell, Gavin Flores, Cory Fairbanks, Evan Coler, Emma Lybolt, Julian Oregon, Gauge McIntyre and Elijah Mata. (Not pictured: Adan Zavala, Bryce Lowenthal, Josiah Alexander and James Pierce).

Fresno State Latin Jazz Ensemble to perform

at  CVHEC Summit Reception May 8

The Fresno State Latin Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Summit 2025 Reception Thursday, May 8, for registered summit participants.

The combo was formed in 2023 as part of the School of Music Jazz Program in Fresno State’s College of Arts and Humanities. Director John Martin said the program’s academic goal is to present students with a myriad of rhythms from the Western Hemisphere, focusing on the music of the African diaspora.

“Afro Cuban percussion and improvisation is a core learning of all students,” said Martin, a Fresno State alumnus (M.A. – Music). “This ensemble also functions to give students real world experience in a gigging environment.”

Fresno State is a member-institution of CVHEC with President Saúl Jiménez Sandoval seated on the consortium‘s board of directors and as a member of the board’s executive committee. The CVHEC Board of Directors is made up of the chancellors, presidents and campus directors of 28 institutions of higher ed in the 10-county Central Valley region.

In October 2024, the university’s  “Department of Music” changed its name to the “School of Music” after updating its instrumental performance, jazz studies, composition, music education and vocal performance programs from Bachelor of Arts to Bachelor of Music degrees in 2022. The new curriculum required for the B.M. degrees is more rigorous and meets the standards of the National Association of Schools of Music professional music degrees, the university said in its announcement.

For more information about the ensemble, Martin may be reached at info@cerronegro.net or 559.284.5128.

CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Program making its mark

[UPDATE APRIL 24, 2025]: the WeWill Program has approximately three seats open for the English cohort. Interested high school  teachers may sign up for an information session at the National University team’s calendly link.


Recruitment underway for

North Valley English HS teachers cohort

 

The  Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) Master’s Upskilling Program – now successfully scaled across three California K-16 Education Collaboratives regions throughout the consortium’s 10-counties — is now recruiting for 12 North Valley and three more Kern County English high school teachers interested in earning a master’s degree that will qualify them to teach dual enrollment college courses.

An online information session is set for April 22 with registration now available.

The program, which provides tuition funding support, is open to English Single Subject credential holders who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in English with a specialization in rhetoric. In addition to dual enrollment courses, the degree also qualifies them to work as adjunct instructors in a community college.

The CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Program was first launched in 2021 with the Fresno/Madera K-16 Collaborative. In 2022, the program was funded for the South Valley by the Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative and in 2024 for the North Valley by the WE Will! K-16 Workforce and Education Collaborative.

The program is in partnership with two CVHEC-members — Fresno Pacific University (math) and National University (English) — along with CVHEC member community colleges and their service-area high schools.

In addition to covering  a large part of the cost of the upskilling coursework, the program provides the high school teachers with community college mentors to support them in their academic journey and in their eventual role as college instructors, said Tom Burke, CVHEC’s  Master’s Upskilling Program coordinator.

For the North Valley participants (San Joaquin, Stanislaus, & Merced counties), CVHEC’s We Will! Workforce and Education Collaborative grant provides $12,500 per student. National University provides a 20 percent tuition reduction scholarship per student also in partnership with CVHEC.

For the South Valley participants receive $14,400 each from Kern’s Regional K16 Education Collaborative and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC).

They also receive a 20 percent ($3,978) employee tuition reduction each from the CVHEC partnership with National University.

Classes are scheduled to begin Spring/Summer 2025 for completion in 12-months or less with 10 courses (45 quarter units) that are fully online, asynchronous instruction in a one-course-per-month format. The program uses a cohort-based model with 12 students per cohort.

Similar to the Fresno and Kern initiatives, National and CVHEC are now working with Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties Superintendent of Schools Offices to recruit for the 12 slots open to high school English teachers in the three North Valley counties seeking this opportunity, as well as working with regional community colleges to identify mentors for the participating teachers.

The Kern program has been recruiting for 15 slots the past few months with 12 slots filled to date.

The April 22 info session webinar covers both North Valley and Kern participants, said Jessica Gladney, senior director of Educational Partnerships Workforce and Community Education (WCE) for National.

Burke said community college professors interested in serving as a mentor should contact the respective coordinators:  Dr. Lori Bennett (math) at lori.bennett@csun.edu or Dr. Vikash Lakhani (English) at vikashlakhani@hotmail.com.

He provided this breakdown of the program’s progress since it began in 2022, with 188 high school teachers to date in the valley’s three K-16 regions completing the postgraduate degree requirements that will qualify them to teach California Community College courses in dual enrollment at their respective high schools:

  • The Fresno/Madera K-16 completed eight cohorts in 2022 that produced 140 master’s degrees: four English cohorts resulted in 54 master’s degrees and in the math component, 86 degrees were conferred in four cohorts also.
  • For Kern K16, 48 master’s degrees have been conferred: three English cohorts have been completed with 32 degrees and a fourth cohort will begin this spring for completion in May 2026 with 12 high school teachers currently recruited (recruitment is still open for three additional slots). In math, one cohort has been completed resulting in 16 degrees conferred and two cohorts are in progress with 12 students set to complete in May 2025 and 22 students in May 2026.
  • The North Valley K-16 (WeWill) program began this year: one English cohort of 12 will begin this spring for completion in May 2026. Recruitment is still open with the April 22 information session.  One math cohort also begins this spring for completion in fall 2026 with 10 students enrolled (recruitment for this math cohort is closed).

For questions about the English program cohort openings, contact Kondwani Prater, National University outreach specialist at kprater@nu.edu or text (818) 214-9044.

 

See:

 

 

Wrap up: CVHEC Math Task Force Convening Mar. 28

Read more

BOARD NEWS: Dr. Whisenhunt named Fresno City College president

FCC: homecoming for Dr. Denise Whisenhunt 

Dr. Denise Whisenhunt – FCC President-select

Ms. Denise Whisenhunt, J.D., has been selected as the next president of Fresno City College effective July 2025 pending contract approval by the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) Board of Trustees at its May 6 meeting.

She will also take a seat on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors at the quarterly meeting May 8, filling the spot vacated when Dr. Robert Pimentel became chancellor of the West Hills Community College District.

A native of Fresno, Ms. Whisenhunt returns to her hometown with both personal ties and a strong sense of purpose, backed by a proven track record of leadership within California’s community college system. She has served as President of Grossmont College since 2021 and has more than two decades of leadership in education including working at San Diego City College and San Diego Mesa College. She has demonstrated a deep commitment to student success, equity, and collaborative leadership, working side-by-side with faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and students to serve San Diego’s East County communities.

She is no stranger to the complexities of higher education. She brings the seasoned perspective of a current sitting president, with the added strength of having led in a multi-college district, much like our own District.

The committee unanimously identified four outstanding finalists through a process that began nine months ago through a nationwide search with outreach to the community, a Campus Listening Session, and a Community Feedback Survey. More than 80 participants shared their expectations and hopes for the next president, which the committee used to shape the application, screening, and interview processes. Finalists participated in public forums, as well as meetings with FCC constituency leaders and Chancellor’s Cabinet members.

Ms. Whisenhunt is a student-first decision maker whose career has been dedicated to expanding access and opportunity—particularly for underserved and underprepared populations. Her leadership is grounded in equity-based practices, and her deep understanding of the California community college mission has earned her praise as a thoughtful, steady, and visionary leader.

She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and a J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. Her commitment to leadership development and lifelong learning is evident in her participation in two of the most prestigious professional fellowships in higher education: the Aspen Institute Presidential Fellowship and the UC Davis Wheelhouse Community College Leadership Fellows program.

Fresno City College was the first California Community College established in 1910 and second in the nation.

See SCCCD press release.

SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Bennett named CVHEC’s math faculty mentor coordinator

Read more

MEMBER NEWS: Coalinga College: OER Teaching  and Learning Forum is May 16

 

‘A morning of learning and strategizing about OERs’ – Goldrick-Rab to keynote

The Teaching and Learning Forum “Relevance & Application through Open Education Resources (OER)” will be presented by Coalinga College May 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harris Ranch in Coalinga (24505 W. Dorris Ave).

Sociologist Sara Goldrick-Rab will keynote the event designed to provide a morning of learning and strategizing about OERs. The event is funded through the Fresno Madera K-16 Collaborative.

The forum will feature students addressing barriers and fostering belonging and support

Participants will explore how OER enhances student access, affordability, and success;  hear from faculty about their experiences developing and using OER;  engage in meaningful discussions on the impact of OER in teaching and learning; and discover strategies to integrate OER into your courses effectively.

Goldrick-Rab is a scholar-activist who founded the #RealCollege movement “to support students’ basic needs and advance a more just vision of higher education.”

Her website describes  #RealCollege as a global movement dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by college students:

“The work focuses on raising awareness about the real-life experiences and struggles of students, especially those from marginalized communities. It highlights often-overlooked issues reflecting students’ basic needs— food and housing insecurity, mental health, child care, transportation, and so on.   The goal is to amplify students voices, foster dialogue, and drive systemic change in higher education institutions and public policies.”

Among her activism is spending six years learning from the experiences of thousands of low-income college students and writing an award-winning book, “Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream” (University of Chicago, 2016).

Register.

MEMBER NEWS: Gov. Newsom announces Master Plan for Career Education at MJC

Easier education access for CTE students, college credit for professional

experience/achievement,  technical career paths through dual enrollment 

Modesto Junior College hosted Gov. Gavin Newsom April 2 for the announcement of the California Master Plan for Career Education.

The press conference was held at the Regional Fire Training Center where MJC Fire Academy and EMT courses and hands-on training activities are held.

Officials from Modesto Junior College, City of Modesto, Stanislaus State, UC Merced, Merced College, Stanislaus County Office of Education, Northern San Joaquin K-16 Collaborative, California State Assembly and more attended a round table discussion on career pathways in career technical education.

The Governor’s plan is focused on creating easier access points to education for students in CTE fields, providing college credit for professional experience and achievement, and allowing high school students to explore technical career paths through dual enrollment opportunities.

California’s economy is built on industries from healthcare to advanced manufacturing and information technology. The California Community Colleges is comprised of 116 colleges and serves more than 2 million students in rural, urban and suburban communities. As discussed by Gov.  Newsom during the workforce panel discussion, colleges are innovating education through Credit for Prior Learning, Dual Enrollment and employer connections. All of these career pathways open doors for all Californians and are key to achieving the goals of the state’s Masterplan for Career Education.

 

See the full  MJC press release.

Related: Master Plan for Career Ed: Does Gov. Newsom’s plan to get Californians into better jobs do enough? – CalMatters

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