New board members will work toward promoting the Santa Ana College Foundation's mission to maintain, expand, and enhance educational opportunities at the college.
(Santa Ana, Calif.) - Santa Ana College Foundation (SACF) has appointed Alex Barrera, Dennis Farrell, and Teresa Gonzalez-Anaya to its board of directors. Inducted by unanimous vote, the new members will advance the Foundation's mission to maintain, expand, and enhance educational opportunities for Santa Ana College (SAC) students, including the promotion of the current SACF campaign, Raising the Game, which is a strategic initiative to support equitable and higher rates of retention and completion at SAC.
Alex Barrera brings diverse experience with over three decades of working in residential, transportation, entertainment, and educational sectors. He is currently the senior director of Education and Facilities at Cordoba Corporation, a nationally recognized engineering, program, and construction management firm. Previously, Barrera was the regional director for Los Angeles Unified School District's East and South regions. He also oversaw the management and operations of client accounts, including LAX/Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles Community College District, Long Beach Unified School District, and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Barrera holds a bachelor's degree in construction engineering and management and a master's degree in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
“I have enjoyed a wonderful career because of affordable education," said Barrera. “It is an honor and my duty to pay it forward to future generations of students, so they too can achieve their dreams."
Dennis Farrell is a SAC alumnus and a graduate of San Diego State University. He most recently served as the commissioner of the Big West Conference for 28 years before retiring in 2020. During his tenure with the Big West Conference, Farrell was the primary rule interpreter, championship administrator, schedule coordinator, and director of the league's successful postseason basketball tournament. He was active in representing the Big West Conference on the national and regional levels, and he served on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Baseball Committee and Collegiate Commissioners Association's National Letter of Intent Appeals Committee. In 2007, Farrell was inducted into the Santa Ana College Hall of Fame in honor of his special volunteer and community work as well as his outstanding professional career.
“Santa Ana College played a crucial role during a very transitional period of my life by allowing me to discover my academic potential and preparing me for success at the four-year college level," said Farrell. “I am forever indebted to the mission of Santa Ana College and am honored to be able to pay it forward to future generations of SAC students."
Teresa Gonzalez-Anaya brings decades of experience in retail, employee development, and marketing to her role as a SACF board member. She is the oldest of six children born to Alicia and Miguel Gonzalez and currently serves as the director of Sales, Events, and Promotions at Northgate Markets in Anaheim, where she has worked for more than 37 years. Gonzalez-Anaya is a community college graduate who worked to achieve her master of business administration from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School at age 40. She enjoys helping children in the community and volunteers as a youth leader and catechist in addition to raising her five children with her husband.
“I am excited to join the SAC Foundation Board because I will be able to contribute to some of my favorite things, like supporting students pursuing higher education at any age and helping the community," said Gonzalez-Anaya.
SACF, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, raises funds to support SAC and its students through the leadership of a 23-member, volunteer board. The Foundation's board members serve three-year terms with a maximum of three terms. New Santa Ana College President Dr. Annebelle Nery also joins the board of directors as an ex officio member following her appointment on January 3. Dr. Nery brings a wealth of knowledge and more than 25 years of experience in education. Under her leadership, institutions have earned state and national recognition, improved student outcomes, positively impacted their respective local communities, and closed equity gaps.
“It is very exciting to welcome our new College President Dr. Nery and these exceptional professionals and change makers to the board," said SACF Board President Rossina Gallegos.
To learn more about the work of the Santa Ana College Foundation please go to sac.edu/foundation and rtgcampaign.org.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and provides workforce training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college's School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation's top, two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
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