Message From the President

Welcome back to the winter 2026 quarter and Happy New Year! I hope that each of you were able to experience a joyous and restorative holiday break with your loved ones and that you are returning to campus refreshed and ready for the work ahead.

As we begin this new calendar year, I want to acknowledge that there is a lot happening across the global and national framework. During these critical times, I am deeply grateful for your continued dedication and service to our students. Your commitment to their successes and wellbeing remains the cornerstone of our college community. As we navigate the weeks and months ahead, I encourage you to please prioritize self-care and remember that my door is always open. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything you need.

Personnel Updates

I am pleased to congratulate Dr. Mallory Newell, who will be serving as the Interim Executive Director of Institutional Research and Planning at the district office beginning February 1. Please join me in thanking Lisa Ly, our senior research analyst, who will step up in place of Mallory to lead our college in support of Institutional Research, Planning & Accreditation. I am confident in Lisa's abilities and look forward to her leadership in this important role.

AI Faculty Fellow and Google AI Partnership

I am delighted to congratulate our AI Faculty Fellow, Chesa Caparas, who will help lead our campus to further explore AI's implications for teaching, learning, equity, privacy, data, and environmental impact. With thanks to our Academic Senate, Classified Senate and district ETS, and in collaboration with the California Community Colleges-Google AI partnership, free access to AI training, Google Career Certificates, and some of Google's cutting-edge AI tools including Gemini for Education and NotebookLM will be available to our faculty and classified staff professionals. This opportunity for our faculty and staff to access tools with Google represents a significant expansion and investment in workforce development within higher education, positioning California's community colleges to be at the forefront of the AI-driven economy. Thank you to Chesa and our Senates for working collaboratively to determine ethical options that we might further consider for implementation across campus as we embrace the future of work and best prepare students for successful entry into the workforce. 

Emergency Preparedness and Building Captains

The district is undergoing a comprehensive review and update of our current Emergency Operations Plans, where new preparedness protocols for all campuses and sites, including student housing, are underway. I am grateful that before the end of the fall 2025 quarter, campus leadership worked with Chief Danny Acosta, Joy Garza, our VP of Finance and Administrative Services (Farhad Sabit) and other administrators to identify building captains throughout campus. Building Captains play an important role during training and emergencies, including assisting with evacuations, accountability, communication with the district's Emergency Operations Center and supporting the safe movement of students, staff and visitors during incidents such as fires, earthquakes, power outages or shelter-in-place events. This quarter, we will commence with informing the campus of Building Captain assignment updates, training these identified personnel and ensuring site assessments occur and emergency supplies are provided. We will also engage in developing risk assessments and participating in specialized tabletop exercises to address a wide range of emergency incidents, including public safety threats, natural disasters, hazardous materials and health emergencies. The safety and wellbeing of our campus is one I take very seriously, and we will work together to ensure we are best prepared to support our students and one another. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to making our campus a place where every member is safe, equipped and assured.

Resource Allocation Model Somos Uno Taskforce

A districtwide Resource Allocation Model Somos Uno taskforce has been assembled, which I will co-lead with President Kristina Whalen of Foothill College. This taskforce will begin its work this month with an interest-based approach (IBA) training, followed by facilitated discussions that will include membership from Central Services, De Anza College, Foothill College and district/campus leadership groups. The taskforce anticipates recommending a districtwide resource allocation model to the Chancellor by the end of spring 2026 quarter.

Educational Master Plan

Our Strategic Plan 2027-2030 was approved by the Board of Trustees at the December 8, 2025 Board meeting. I want to express my sincere thanks to the campus community for your input into this important document that serves as the framework for our planning. The campus will now begin the next phase of planning on its Educational Master Plan, which will be led by the Academic Senate and the Office of Instruction. Please join me in thanking Dr. Erik Woodbury (Academic Senate President), Shagun Kaur (Academic Senate Vice President) and Dr. Ram Subramaniam (Vice President of Instruction) for their leadership in working with our students, faculty, staff and administrators on this important work that will be conducted throughout 2026 and will also inform our next Facilities Master Plan.

Gratitude for Our Grounds and Custodial Crews

I want to thank our amazing grounds and custodial crews, who continue to make a difference to ensure our campus is welcoming and ready each day for our students and campus community. They are now working as part of the district to ensure top-notch services for our campus. With all the recent rains and heavy winds, the campus looks beautiful, as the crews have been working diligently with district facilities leadership to ensure the campus is ready for the start of the quarter. Please join me in thanking our team members as well as our new Director of College Operations Henry Cervantes when you see them across campus.

Facilities Projects

This calendar year will feature ongoing work in designing our new Creative Arts Building and renovating our physical education facilities. Please take a moment to thank our faculty and staff who are working with Deans Kristin Skager and Dr. Eric Mendoza along with Athletic Director Ron Hannon and our Associate Vice President of Instruction Sam Bliss. More information will follow in the months ahead on progress being made on these important projects through the Campus Facilities Committee while ensuring we continue to solicit campus input.

Food Services Update

During the 2025-2026 year, food services have been provided by Pacific Dining Services on a temporary basis, with our current arrangement expiring on June 30, 2026. Campus representatives will be working with district staff to solicit Request for Proposals (RFPs) during winter and spring 2026, with the goal of having a permanent vendor in place for the campus by summer 2026.

Year 2 Listening Tours and Open Office Hours

As I begin my second year, I am committed to reengaging in listening tours and the implementation of open office hours to continue to hear from students, faculty, staff, and administrators on what is happening in your areas, your ideas for the future of our college and how I can best support you and your departments. I look forward to meeting with you and hope we can find time to genuinely connect. Please feel free to reach out to Nathaly Aguilar (aguilarnathaly@fhda.edu) to find a time for us to meet. A schedule of available open office hours will be sent forth later this week. I look forward to hearing and learning from each of you!

College Update Postponement

With all that is going on now and in the anticipated future, we will postpone the update event previously planned for Tuesday, January 20.  Instead, we will plan to include this as part of our Opening Day event at the start of the fall 2026 quarter.

Thank you for your service to our students and to the De Anza College community. Your patience during these first few rainy days of the quarter, as students may struggle to be timely during the start of the new term and weather conditions, is most appreciated. I wish you all a successful quarter, and please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything you need to help support you and the educational experiences for our students.

With gratitude and best wishes for a successful 2026,
Omar