One of the oldest community colleges in California, MJC has two main campuses in the city of Modesto and serves more than 18,000 day and evening students each semester.
Located near the city of Sonora in the wooded Sierra Nevada foothills, Columbia College is a primary resource of adult learning for residents throughout the Mother Lode region.
Chancellor
Dr. Lena Tran, Interim Chancellor
Board Members
Dr. Don Davis - Area 1
Nancy Hinton - Area 2
Dr. Milton Richards - Area 3
Jenny Nicolau - Area 4
Darin Gharat - Area 5
Leslie Beggs - Area 6
Antonio Aguilar - Area 7
Seth Rodriguez - Student Trustee
Presidents
Dr. Chad Redwing, Columbia College Interim President
Dr. Brian Sanders, Modesto Junior College President
The Board agenda is posted 72 hours prior to the meeting. Board agendas and minutes prior to April 2014 can be requested by contacting the Chancellor's Office, 209.575.6509.
116 community colleges, as part of 73 districts, serve the entire state of California. Each college district is governed by a locally-elected board of trustees, empowered by statute and law to have legal authority and ultimate responsibility for their district. Trustees are expected to be aware of and responsive to local community needs as they fulfill their role of governance.
The Yosemite Community College District consists of Modesto Junior College, with approximately 26,000 students, and Columbia College in the Sierra foothills, serving approximately 4,000 students.
According to the Community College League of California (CCLC), each elected community college board, as a unit:
~adapted from the CCLC Trustee Handbook
The Yosemite Community College District Board of Trustees takes its roles and responsibilities very seriously as it acts on behalf of our community's educational needs.
Dr. Don Davis
Board Vice President
Area 1 - (yellow)
"Our nation has established public education for all as a fundamental right. Our calling is to protect and nurture that right and provide each student with high-quality, relevant and meaningful opportunities to learn." -Dr. Don Davis
Term Expires
November 2026
Current Committees
Board Finance Standing Committee
Columbia College Foundation (Advisory Council Member)
Association of Stanislaus County School Boards
Contact Information
Dr. Don Davis
PO Box 4065
Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 575-6509 • (209) 575-6565 fax
Email: davisd@yosemite.edu
Nancy Hinton
Area 2 (green)
Term Expires
November 2026
Current Committees
Board Policy Standing Committee
Contact Information
Ms. Nancy Hinton
PO Box 4065
Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 985-4133 • (209) 575-6565 fax
Email: hintonn@yosemite.edu
Dr. Milton E. Richards
Board President
Area 3 (red)
"Education is the foundation of our future. We must prioritize affordability, expand opportunities, and recognize that every student represents the promise of our community and our nation." -Dr. Milton Richards
Term Expires
November 2028
Current Committees
None
Contact Information
Dr. Milton E. Richards
PO Box 4065
Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 575-6509 • (209) 575-6565 fax
Email: richardsm@yosemite.edu
Jenny Nicolau
Area 4 (purple)
Term Expires
November 2026
Current Committees
Board Policy Standing Committee
Contact Information
Mrs. Jenny Nicolau
PO BOX 4065
Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 575-6509 • (209) 575-6565 fax
Email: nicolauj@yosemite.edu
Darin Gharat
Area 5 (brown)
Term Expires
November 2028
Current Committees
Board Finance Standing Committee
Valley Insurance Program/Joint Powers Agency Board of Directors
Contact Information
Mr. Darin Gharat
PO Box 4065
Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 575-6509 • (209) 575-6565 fax
Email: gharatd@yosemite.edu
Leslie Beggs
Area 6 (pink)
Term Expires
November 2028
Current Committees
Board Policy Standing Committee
Modesto Junior College (MJC) Foundation Board of Directors
Contact Information
Mrs. Leslie Beggs
PO Box 4065
Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 622-3835 / (209) 575-6509 • (209) 575-6565 fax
Email: beggsl@yosemite.edu
Antonio Aguilar
Area 7 (gray)
Term Expires
November 2028
Current Committees
Board Finance Standing Committee
Association of Stanislaus County School Boards (ASCSB)
Contact Information
Mr. Antonio Aguilar
PO Box 4065
Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 575-6509 • (209) 575-6565 fax
Email: aguilara@yosemite.edu
The Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) includes two comprehensive two-year colleges (Modesto Junior College and Columbia College) and a Central Services unit. The District covers a 4,500 square mile area and serves a population of over 550,000, encompassing all of two counties (Stanislaus and Tuolumne) and parts of four others (Calaveras, Merced, San Joaquin and Santa Clara). Modesto Junior College, established in 1921, is situated in the Central Valley serves an agricultural and manufacturing based economy. Columbia College, established in 1968, is located in a small mountain community in the Sierra Nevadas, whose economy is based on tourism and natural resources. For the 2009-10 academic year, 18,108 Full Time Equivalent Student (FTES) were enrolled. The District employs a staff of over 1,500 individuals with an annual budget of just over $114.4 million.
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