New YCCD Chairwoman Optimistic

Columbia, CA — The Yosemite Community College District Board of Trustees recently elected a new Chairperson.

The Chair is selected on a rotating basis, and Dr. Lyn Martin of Sonora will lead the group in 2014. She was elected to the YCCD Board of Trustees in 2010, and represents District Area One, which includes Tuolumne, Calaveras and portions of Stanislaus Counties.

Dr. Martin says there is some optimism in the air for community colleges. “It’s a positive time, and things are looking good,” says Martin. “You know things were so bleak for three or four years with all the budget cuts, and it seems like they always think that education should take the budget cut, but now things are looking better. We’re looking forward to more faculty and more opportunities for the students.”

Dr. Martin says the final Measure E bond projects will be a major topic of the next year, especially the plans to renovate the Manzanita Building at Columbia College. “It’s going to be wonderful for the students to have a one stop shop, so that they don’t have to go all over, everywhere, to get things like financial aid, counseling, and that type of thing,” she adds. “I’m so excited about that for the students.”

The $9-million project should get underway later this year.

Dr. Martin worked at Columbia College for over 20 years as a counselor. The YCCD Vice-Chair of 2014 will be Don Viss of Waterford, who represents District Two. The Board consists of seven elected members. Dr. Martin succeeds Abe Rojas of Turlock.

The YCCD includes both Columbia College and Modesto Junior College.