NEWSLETTER

JUNE 2024

The Application for the 2024-2025 Cohort

are now open

Application period for Fall 2024 is now open!

As of 2022, nearly 90% of program participants have successfully received offers for full-time/tenure track or part-time faculty positions in higher education. Are you ready to commence your journey as a faculty member in the community college?


For program consideration, applicants must submit the following documents as part of their online application:

  • A letter of interest specifying why you are interested in teaching students at Bakersfield College. The letter should also discuss how your educational experiences have prepared them to teach at a community college with a diverse student body, like Bakersfield College.
  • An updated curriculum vitae with at least three professional references with contact information listed. One of the references needs to be from a current or former supervisor.
  • College/university transcript (unofficial transcripts will be accepted), including all college units attempted.



For further information or questions regarding the program, contact Dr. Maria Wright at maria.wright2@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

The Learning Lab Announces

Two New Grant Opportunities


The California Education Learning Lab (Learning Lab) is pleased to announce two new grant opportunities to promote AI-integrated innovation in teaching and learning at California Community Colleges (CCC), and California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) campuses. These funding opportunities will help to position California public higher education faculty as thought leaders and changemakers in the intersection between AI and education. 


If you are… passionate about advancing equity in education, or want to pioneer the use of AI in higher education, or already a leader in the AI technology-education space…


AI Grand or AI FAST may be for you!


Read More

Professional Development Opportunities

Project: ASCCC OERI – IDEA Framework Summer Pilot Program

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Application Deadline is June 3, 2024


The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI) is recruiting California Community College faculty to participate in a summer pilot project to inform the development of the OERI’s IDEA Framework assessment process.

More Info

Event: Accessibility Summer Workshop

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The Accessibility Summer Workshop is an online learning event hosted by the California Community Colleges Accessibility Center. All staff and faculty of the California Community Colleges are invited to attend, free of charge.


"Focus, Equity and Direction - Accessibility 2030 and Beyond." Join the CCC Accessibility Center for a one-day online workshop highlighting areas related to Sections 504 and 508 compliance.

More Info

Courses: Professional Development Courses offered by ZTC TAP

California Community College Chancellor's Office Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Grant Program's Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) offers California Community Colleges free resources and services to support their successful development and implementation of ZTC pathways, leveraging the largest-ever pubic investment in Open Educational Resources (OER). 

More Info

Event: CCCSAA Professional Development Conference 2024

June 12 - June 14, 2024

Individuals serving or desiring to serve in roles as student advisors, conduct administrators, social justice change agents, basic needs coordinators and student affairs practitioners are encouraged to attend this three-day conference. 

More Info

Monthly Event: Counseling for Justice and Equity

Vision in Action Professional Development Edition

FDPF alumni and current participants are invited to sign-up for California Community Colleges - Vision In Action website. Here a some highlights from their January 2024 newsletter.

Visit Vision Resource Center

Lead Faculty

Dr. Maria Wright

Professor of Education



Bakersfield College

(661)395-4607

Maria.Wright2@bakersfieldcollege.edu


Faculty Diversification Fellowship Program

Applied Leadership Program

Dr. Maria Wright and I am a faculty in the Education Department. Currently, I work closely on the Aspire Faculty Diversification Fellowship Program and the Applied Leadership Program.


Before taking on this role, I served as the Director of Academic Support Services for several years, where my work focused on centralizing efforts to provide wrap-around support for students. This work focused on enhancing the out-of-class academic experience for BC students. I have also served as the Advising Lead for the School of Business at a four-year institution and as an Educational Advisor at Bakersfield College.


I earned my doctoral degree from California State University, Fresno in Educational Leadership, my master’s degree in Educational Administration from California State University, Bakersfield, and my bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach. 


As a first-generation graduate, I am deeply passionate about increasing equity, inclusion, and diversity in higher education institutions. More specifically, I seek to expand opportunities for students who have historically been excluded from social and educational opportunities. 

Program Resource Links

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) Resources

CCCCO Vision Resource Center

Literature from the field

Best Practices for Online Teaching and Learning

Enhancing Your Pedagogy and Andragogy

Campus Resources

National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)



View All Program Resource Links

Bakersfield College | Faculty Diversification Fellowship Program Website

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