March 13, 2009

Awards and Accolades

Film/TV Students Shine

Two De Anza Film/TV students were the sole San Francisco Bay Area winners in the WILDsound One-Page Screenplay Competition and once again represent the only community college in the Student Shorts Competition at the Cinequest Film Festival in February. Jennifer Gonzalez and Matthew Ritter were among 20 winners in the international screenwriting competition. Gonzalez's "De-Lecter-Ble Delights" and Ritter's "Night Terror" will be read at WILDsound's March event in Toronto, Canada.

Students Jennie Yim, Keenan Manely, Jake Rossi, William Yang, Leo Aquino and Jonathan Oren created the cel animation for the music video "Welcome to the Third World," directed by animation instructor Webster Colcord.

And two student films were selected to compete in the Student Shorts category: "Laundry" by Samuel Cheung and "In Search For I" by Gustav Asplund. De Anza was the only community college represented among short films from UCLA, University of Southern California, New York University, Stanford University, Columbia University, University of Texas, Austin, and the American Film Institute.

Vocal Flight Nominated for Monterey Jazz Festival

De Anza's Vocal Flight was named a finalist in the Next Generation Competition for the Monterey Jazz Festival and will compete for a cash award and a performance at the prestigious festival in fall 2009. Only six ensembles from across the country received this honor. Directed by Michelle Hawkins, Vocal Flight members are: Sila Charukesnant, Allen Loggins, Masako Okada, Lina Palmer, Joellen Persad and Kevin Van.

Instructor Honored with Two Certifications

In December, accounting instructor Christopher Kwak was honored twice for his work as a financial forensics expert. Kwak was designated a Certified Fraud Examiner by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The credential is granted to select professionals who meet a stringent set of criteria, including character, experience and education. CFEs are knowledgeable in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: fraudulent financial transactions, criminology and ethics, legal elements of fraud and fraud investigation. De Anza will be added to ACFE's Higher Education Partnering Institution list.

Kwak was also awarded the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Credential by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The credential is granted to qualified CPAs with considerable professional experience in financial forensics. Kwak said new course curriculum is under way at De Anza in financial forensics.

Instructor Published in Poetry Anthology

Some of photography instructor Wilfredo Castano's award-winning poetry was published in "The Chicano/Latino Literary Prize: An Anthology of Prize-Winning Fiction, Poetry and Drama."

College Web Site Achieves a New Milestone

Webmaster Bradley Creamer reported last month that the total number of "hits" to the college's main front page between May 22, 2002 and Feb. 12, 2009 surpassed 30 million. Average hits per year were about 4.5 million and average hits per month were about 372,000.

Around Campus

March is Women's History Month at De Anza

There is still time to view a number of films in the "Women & Revolution" series sponsored by DASB, the Visiting Speakers Series, the California History Center, the Euphrat Museum of Art, the Women's Studies Department and the Creative Arts Division.

• "Zanzibar Soccer Queens" -- Monday, March 16, 10:25 a.m., G1
• "Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible" -- Monday, March 16, 3:30, ADM 101 (Part 1) and Wednesday, March 18, 3:30 p.m., ADM 101 (Part 2)

The Clothesline Project

Also in celebration of Women's History Month, The Clothesline Project will present a visual display of shirts hung on a clothesline, bearing witness to violence against women. Each shirt is decorated to represent a particular woman's experience. The display is sponsored by the San Jose branch of the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom.

When: Wednesday, March 18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Campus Center Patio

Art Installation to Promote Student Dialogue

As the result of a dialogue between two De Anza students, an Afghan War veteran and an Afghan Muslim, an art installation called "Counting Lives Lost: Making Tangible an Abstract Measure of Grief" will be brought to campus on April 18 and 19. This artwork by Kathleen Crocetti (a member of Blue Star Mothers, whose son is serving in Iraq) is a visual representation of the nearly 5,000 American casualties and more than 50,000 Iraqi dead since the beginning of the war in Iraq. The installation takes 200-300 people-hours to construct, so the whole building process is designed to be part of the dialogue. A program called "Counting Lives Lost, Making Our Lives Count: A Healing Dialogue" is planned for April 29 in the Campus Center, with Kathleen Crocetti in attendance. A multi-denominational memorial service is planned for May. More details to follow.

Stand in the Place Where You Live

The Institute of Community and Civic Engagement (ICCE) presents a one-day workshop designed to support efforts to establish service-learning programs and strengthen existing programs within community colleges. President Brian Murphy, founder of SFSU's Institute of Civic & Community Engagement, will give the keynote presentation.

When: Friday, April 24, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: California History Center
Cost: $30

The workshop goals are:

• Explore the theoretical aspects related to community service learning and the reciprocal nature of community partnerships
• Apply and practice the theories presented
• Present models of community partnerships
• Present and discuss cultural specific practices and educational needs of Pacific Islander students

For more information and to download the registration form, go to ICCE's Web site.

New Student & Parent Open House 2009

Join Director of Outreach and Relations with Schools Rob Mieso at this new event for high school students and their parents that replaces the two weeknight student and parent events held previously. All divisions, departments, programs and services are invited to participate. We expect a large turnout and are planning a festive and welcoming event, with music, refreshments and activities including on-site application, Counseling 100 registration, info table visits, program area tours and breakout sessions.

When: Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Student & Community Services Building

For more information, contact Rob Mieso, ext. 8835.

Student Opportunities

Green Jobs Information Fair

Students can learn how to be part of the green job revolution at this job fair sponsored by ¡LEAD!, Wise 37 and Latina/o Heritage Events, and funded by DASB. Students will hear industry leaders talk about green job opportunities, learn what classes to take to prepare for these new jobs and get internship information.

When: Wednesday, March 18, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Where: Campus Center Conference Room B

For more information, contact Faye Rachford, 408.224.8687 or Marc Coronado, ext. 8409.

White House Internship Program

President Barack Obama has launched the White House Internship Program for his administration and announced that applications are being accepted for the 2009 Summer Internship program, which runs from May 22 to August 14. The submission deadline is March 22. Those interested in applying to the White House Internship Program must be:

• U.S. citizens
• 18 years of age on or before the first day of the internship
• Enrolled in a college or university (2-4 year institution) or must have graduated from college in the past two years.

Interns will be placed in a departmental office for their internship. Below is a list of departments in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President where interns could be placed.

• White House Department of Scheduling and Advance
• The Office of Cabinet Affairs
• The White House Communications Department
• The White House Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
• The Office of the First Lady
• The White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)
• The Office of Political Affairs
• The Office of Management and Administration
• The Office of White House Counsel
• The Domestic Policy Council
• The White House Office of Presidential Personnel
• Office of the Vice President

More information on the White House Internship Program, including application instructions, can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships

Study in Vietnam

De Anza is conducting another summer class in Vietnam. Students will earn 8 credits and study and travel with Vietnamese students from Hoa Sen University. The deadline to apply is May 1 and is limited to 18 U.S. students. Some scholarships are available.

When: July 6-30

Orientation meetings:

When: Wednesday, April 22, 12-1 p.m.
Where: De Anza, Library, 2nd floor

When: Wednesday, April 29, 12-1 p.m.
Where: Foothill, Krause Center for Innovation

For more information, contact Vu-Duc Vuong, 415.407.6282.

News Briefs and Updates

Maximizing Workforce Development Opportunities

As part of efforts to consolidate and strengthen programs, De Anza's Professional & Workforce Development Office will be relocating to the Foothill campus and become part of the Career/Workforce & Technology area under the direction of Vice President of Workforce Development & Instruction Richard Galope. The move will officially be effective for the 2009-10 academic year.

New Budget Information Web Site

Thanks to Pippa Gibson and Julie Ceballos, we have a new De Anza Budget Information Web site! The goal of this Web site is to share current budget information with faculty and staff. It will be updated as frequently as possible. There is an announcements page where the latest De Anza, district and state information is posted, such as the latest district budget reduction plan and information presented to the board of trustees. There is also a page that addresses many of the current FAQs. Please bookmark www.deanza.edu/budgetinfo and visit it often for the latest updates.

De Anza's Going Virtual with an Interactive Campus Tour

Check out our new Virtual Campus Tour, commissioned by Outreach and built by the Web Team with student employee participation and support. The online tour provides prospective and new students a visual overview of the campus with several ways to learn about programs and services at De Anza. We will add more features -- such as video and panoramic views -- as we go forward.

The site is live but not yet linked from anywhere on the De Anza Web site. The tour has been tested by several Outreach high school partners, with positive feedback on navigation, usability and content. Please take a look -- especially at those buildings/areas in which you work. E-mail the Web Team at webteam@saturn.deanza.edu if we missed listing a program in the right location or if you have corrections. We plan to promote the tour from the De Anza home page starting the last week of winter quarter. Enjoy the tour at http://www.deanza.edu/vtour/

Distance Learning Center Relocated

Distance Learning is now located in the northeast corner of the Library, Room 107. Temporary access to the center while its main doors are being retrofitted is through the Library main entrance.

Child Development Center Has Openings

The center is taking applications for the 2009-2010 school year for children between the ages of 18 months to 5 years. Full-time, low-income students may be eligible for no-cost or low-cost child care. Faculty please share this information with your students. Interested students should contact Linda Koyama, ext. 8891.

Save the Date for Shakespeare

Join instructors Julie Pesano and Brian Smitih for five days at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Aug. 13-17, 2009) and receive 2 college credits. Their ELIT 97 class includes six plays, chartered coach transportation, breakfasts and dinners, backstage tours, Q&A sessions with actors and technicians, and much more. Cost is $775. For more information and to register, see http://faculty.deanza.edu/pesanojulie or pesanojulie@deanza.edu or smithbrian@deanza.edu.

Faculty and Staff News

The Employee of the Month Committee Needs Your Help

The Classified Employee of the Month Committee is still seeking new members. Candidates should be flexible, creative team players with energy and enthusiasm for fun celebrations, interested in receiving PGA credit. The committee meets a minimum of once a month to plan for upcoming EOM celebrations and to select EOMs. If you can't serve on the committee, it only takes a few minutes to express how a Classified Professional has made an impact or impression on you with his or her hard work and dedication to the job. Contact Patty Jobs, ext. 8711.

Congratulations to De Anza Employees

The board of trustees has approved the following personnel actions since January 2009.

Newly Tenured Faculty:

Gregory Anderson, College Readiness
Maryalice Bonilla, English
Lori Clinchard-Sepeda, Humanities
Alexandria Giardino, English
Cassie Hanna, Nursing
Bruce Heyer, Biology
Steve Howland, English
Juliana Kang-Robinson, Art
Jack Lynch, Business
Anita Muthyala Kandula, Biology
Isaiah Nengo, Anthropology
Moto Ohtake, Art
Julie Pesano, English
Barbara Peurifoy, Nursing
Alexander Swanner, Library Services

New Vice President of Instruction: Christina Espinosa-Pieb

Interim Vice President of Finance & Educational Resources: Letha Jeanpierre

New Hires:

Janet Couch-Vong, Finance & Educational Resources
Mark Ferrer, HOPE
Michael Gracon, Special Education
Heather Lyon, Bio/Health
Brent Rothert, PSME
Melissa Sheldon, Special Education
Andrew Stoddard, Applied Technologies

Professional Growth Awards:

Nicole Buchwald, Bio/Health
Sally Larson, Applied Technologies
Joy Lu, Business/Computer Systems
Virginia Marquez, Student Services
Kevin Metcalf, Finance & Educational Resources
Angelita Pabros, Counseling

Service Recognition Awards:

Frantie Corrales,
Miguel Ordaz,
Maria Salazares,
Rene Rivas Sanchez,
all from Finance & Educational Resources

Longevity Awards:

Greg Bartschenfeld, Finance & Educational Resources
Mary Browning, Language Arts
Lorna Maynard, Applied Technologies
Kent McGee, Student Services
Lisa Mustachia, Counseling
Quang Thanh, Library Services

Employee of the Month

Patrick Dowling, February 2009 "I really love the work I am doing here at the college, helping our diverse student population realize their educational dreams and aspirations," says Dowling. "Every day the students I come into contact with inspire me. Their enthusiasm, drive and willingness to embrace challenges never cease to amaze me. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to be a small part of a wonderful team."