Chancellor Jose M. Ortiz, Ed.D, announces that five (5) finalists for the position of Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration, Peralta Community College District, have been chosen by the Selection Committee. A public forum is scheduled for March 12. Here are brief biographies of the candidates followed by details about the forum.
- John al-Amin
Dr. al-Amin currently serves as Interim Vice President of Business Services for Riverside City College. He has a wealth of budget management and executive leadership experience, having served as a Senior Budget Analyst for the State of California’s Department of Finance, and also as Chief Business and Administrative Services Officer at Laney, Grossmont, and Oxnard Colleges. In addition, he served as Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services for the Contra Costa Community College District.
Dr. al-Amin’s experience includes service as a Student Services Officer and work as a Graduate Research Assistant with the California Educational Research Cooperative at the University of California, Riverside. He was also a Recreation Program Instructor and Program Director at the University of California, Berkeley. He has been responsible for fiscal, policy, and strategic planning operations at his various institutions, in addition to having oversight and/or management responsibilities over various programs and services that have included Athletics, Bookstore Operations, Custodial Services, Capital Planning, Facilities Operations, Food Services, Grounds Maintenance, Human Resources, Information Technology, College Police, Procurement and Contracts, and Switchboard, Mailroom, and Warehouse Operations.
His academic training and expertise are in economics, educational administration, and business management. He earned a B.A. in economics and an M.A. in education from the University of California, Riverside, and a Ph.D. in Management from California Pacific University.
- Mazie Brewington
Ms. Brewington served 23 years in the United States Army, attaining the rank of Sergeant Major. In recognition for her exceptionally meritorious performance of outstanding service and achievement, she was awarded the Legion of Merit (highest peace-time honor) upon her separation from the Army.
Ms. Brewington began her career with the California Community College System in 1999 as the Business Manager for Laney College. She has also served as Controller of Chabot-Las Positas Community College and Vice President of Administrative & Business Services at Solano Community College District. Thereafter, she served as Vice President of Administrative Services for Merced Community College District, and since 2013, she has been serving as Vice President, Administrative & Business Services at Antelope Valley Community College District. Ms. Brewington was named for Excellence in Community Colleges by the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) in 2004.
Ms. Brewington holds a M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) from Troy State University, a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Columbia College, and an A.A. in General Studies from Columbia College. Other successful leadership training includes completion of Integrated Strategic Enrollment Management at the Snowmass Institute in 2002; Advanced Strategic Studies and Operations, U.S. Army, El Paso, Texas, 1993; and the Logistics Management Program, U.S. Army, Petersburg, Virginia, 1992.
- Jeanine Hawk
Ms. Hawk brings over 20 years of experience in Higher Education. She has served as Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer at Alliant International University since November 2011, Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services in the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District beginning June 2009, and served for several months as that district’s Acting Chancellor. She previously held vice presidential positions in the Santa Monica Community College District and at De Anza College. She has worked in community colleges for approximately 18 years.
Hawk holds an M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) from Southern Oregon University. She has achieved advanced candidacy in the SFSU Educational Leadership doctoral program and is writing a dissertation on the relationship of spending patterns and student outcomes in California community colleges.
- Yulian Ligioso
Mr. Ligioso has over three decades of experience in business and finance, with 22 years in California community college finance. For the last three years, he has held the position of Vice President of Finance & Administration at Solano Community College. He previously served as Vice President of Administrative Services at Chabot-Las Positas and San Jose Evergreen Community College Districts, and also taught and held business/finance positions at the College of Marin and at Ventura and Modesto Colleges.
Mr. Ligioso holds a Baccalaureate in Business Administration/Accounting from the University of Southern California, and an M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) from the University of the Pacific. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, formerly with Ernst & Young, an international accounting and consulting firm.
- Ronald Little
Mr. Little has over 25 years of leadership and management experience. He began his career in educational business and finance at the San Carlos School District, a K-8 district of 3,000 students. Prior to moving to community colleges, he served as Chief Financial Officer of the San Diego Unified School District, the second largest district in the state with over 130,000 students and a $1.1 billion general fund budget. Mr. Little was instrumental in creating strategies to turn around San Diego Unified’s budget problems and helped in re-building the district’s credibility within the community.
A product of the California community college system, Mr. Little earned his B.A. degree in English Literature from UC Irvine, and later earned an MBA in Finance from the University of San Francisco. He has also been awarded a post-graduate certification from the University of Southern California in School Business Management.
Mr. Little currently serves as the Vice President of Administrative Services for the Ohlone Community College District in Fremont, CA, where he leads several departments: Budget and Finance, Campus Police, Facilities, Purchasing, Risk Management, and Technology. At Ohlone he has built a strong sense of team and focus.
Public Forum and Chancellor’s Interviews:
Each candidate will participate in a Public Forum to be moderated by John Hendrickson, Interim Deputy Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, 4 p.m. to 7:10 p.m., at the District Boardroom, 333 East 8th Street, Oakland, CA 94606. The schedule:
Jeanine Hawk – 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Ronald Little – 4:40 p.m. to 5:10 p.m.
John al-Amin – 5:20 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.
Mazie Brewington – 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Yulian Ligioso – 6:40 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.
There will be a brief introduction of each candidate, followed by a question-and-answer session. Comment forms will be given to all who attend, and the completed forms will be collected immediately after each session and given to Chancellor Ortiz.
On the following day, Thursday, March 13, 2014, each candidate will participate in an interview with Chancellor Ortiz.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the Public Forum.
Dr. Norma Ambriz-Galaviz has served since 2008 as Vice President of Instruction for Mission College of the West Valley Mission Community College District. Dr. Ambriz-Galaviz was employed for 17 years at Chabot College, Hayward, California, and she also worked at Cabrillo and Hartnell Community Colleges holding various academic and student services positions from psychology instructor, counselor, Special Student Services Dean and Social Sciences Division Dean. Coupled with numerous college committees, task forces and/or selection committees, Dr. Ambriz-Galaviz has earned a reputation of being well versed on the day-to-day operations of both student services and instruction. She is known for her advocacy and collaborative approach that promotes academic excellence, student success and the college.
Dr. Edward Bush currently serves as the Vice President of Student Services for Riverside City College. He has over 18 years of experience in higher education with 15 of those years with the Riverside Community College District. He has served as an associate faculty member in student activities, Director of the Educational Talent Search federal TRIO grant, and Dean of Student Services. In addition, he has served on numerous college and district-wide committees and has been active with several community organizations including serving on the board for two non-profit foundations. Dr. Bush has also worked as an adjunct instructor for the Graduate School of Education at the University of Redlands and is currently an adjunct instructor at Brandman University. Dr. Bush has taught courses in student development, organizational theory, and research.
Dr. Marie-Elaine Burns has served as the Vice President of Student Affairs at San Jose City College for the last seven years. She is a native Californian, born in San Mateo and raised in the San Francisco.
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