Hello Gavilan community, I hope you each are doing well. It is March, which is significant to me for two reasons: it signals a year that our campus community has operated remotely, and it is Women’s History Month. Both milestones are worthy of our recognition and reflection.
First, the pandemic and our college. It has been a traumatic and challenging year, with new decisions to be made each day as health directives changed with positive cases and our globe struggled with responding to a crisis unlike anything we had ever experienced. As I reflect on Gavilan’s response to the pandemic and these continuous variables, I feel strongly that we have been steady and focused. Steady in our instructional delivery, outreach, and training, and focused on the basic needs of our students. All members of the Gavilan Family have stepped forward and contributed to the “steady and focused” response from the college. It is incredible to think about how much we have learned in the past year and how these lessons will influence our instructional programs and services in the future. Higher Education will never follow a singular, traditional modality again.
Which takes me to the second March milestone which is Women’s History Month. This year the theme stated for International Women’s Day is “Choose to Challenge”. The intent of this theme is to remind all women that we are encouraged to choose to challenge in gender bias and inequality. We can also choose to acknowledge the work ahead to create an inclusive world, and we can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements.
As I think back over my career, I often think about the strong women who have guided my leadership journey and encouraged me to choose to challenge the standard norms around me. These mentors helped me when I was at a fork in the road and provided advice that helped me make important decisions that impacted my career trajectory to my current role as Superintendent/President at Gavilan.
Who are the mentors in your life, and how did you choose them? I believe that for women and people of color, mentorship is even more critical. Mentors remind us of our greatness and deliver the kind of advice and insight you may not receive from others. Mentors help us to improve and thrive…even during a pandemic.
As we move through the month of March, I urge you to thank the mentors in your life and continue to seek out more mentors and serve as one for others. From my experience, it can make all the difference in your personal and professional growth.
Continue to stay steady and focused, Gavilan. Be a mentor for each other and show appreciation for the strong women in your world. Take care and stay safe.
