Sacramento, CA ---- This week, San Diego Mesa College Professor Dr. Veronica Gerace
received the prestigious 2023 Regina Stanback Stroud Diversity Award from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges
(ASCCC). As the official voice of California community college faculty in academic and professional
matters, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) is committed
to equity, student learning and student success. The Academic Senate for California
Community Colleges acts to empower faculty to engage in local and statewide dialog
and take action for continued improvement of teaching, learning, and faculty participation
in governance.
Each year, amazing faculty work and dedication to students are recognized with submissions
for statewide awards, and Dr. Gerace was recognized for her contributions leading
up to and during the 2022-23 academic year. Serving the most diverse student population
of any higher education system in the country, the California Community Colleges system
is largely comprised of demographic groups that have traditionally faced barriers
to education. The prestigious Regina Stanback Stroud Diversity Award acknowledges an individual or group that is exceptional in
contributing to the advancement of intercultural harmony, equity, and campus diversity
at their college.
“I have observed with amazement and enthusiasm Dr. Gerace’s relentless innovation and
hard work advancing an inclusive, supportive, and engaged campus climate that benefits
all aspects of our campus community, stated Dr. Ashanti T. Hands, Mesa College President.
“Dr. Gerace’s contributions to equity span a broad range of more than 25 initiatives,
new organizations, programs, policies, processes, workshops, and classes. We are blessed
to have Dr. Gerace as a part of the Mesa College community and are a better campus
because of who she is! I am excited, but not surprised, to see her recognized for
such a prestigious award.”
Regina Stanback Stroud Diversity Award Announcement
The recipient of the Stanback Stroud Award this year is Veronica Gerace, communications studies faculty member at San Diego Mesa College.
The following is an excerpt from the local academic senate letter of support: “An
experienced instructor for more than two decades, our nominee helped create a number
of classroom and non-classroom initiatives to foster diversity, equity and inclusion
(DEI). In addition, the nominee has endeavored to institutionally embed DEI both locally
and throughout California. Professor Gerace conceived of the Common Grounds Initiative
that gathers students, faculty members, classified professionals, and administrators
for informal conversations that build trust among the college’s stakeholders. She
founded the Regional Chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges
that currently includes more than 150 members. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder,
Professor Gereace and a colleague launched Propelled by Protests, a project that encouraged African
American student leadership to host substantive dialogue among all the College’s stakeholders.
Propelled by Protests activities included guest speakers who addressed concerns specific
to Mesa’s African American students.”
Dr. Gerace is a faculty member in the Communication Studies Department at San Diego
Mesa College. She has a passion for guiding students to success by developing and
implementing innovative and creative teaching strategies which often disrupt the status
quo. Dr. Gerace is a leader who often challenges systems to ensure that traditionally
marginalized and underserved students have rich opportunities to thrive as scholars.
She has also developed numerous programs to empower students to advocate for themselves
and build self-efficacy. Dr. Gerace also serves on regional and statewide organizations
which work to address equity. Additionally, she has served in many capacities for
numerous non-profit organizations throughout the world for most of her life. Dr. Gerace
is also a Board Member for the San Diego Mesa College Foundation.
About San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited, comprehensive college committed to equity
and excellence. We honor our diverse community of students, faculty, professional
staff, and administrators who collaborate to foster scholarship, leadership, access,
and innovation in an inclusive learning environment. By promoting student learning
and achievement that leads to degrees and certificates, transfer, workforce training,
and lifelong learning, we empower our students to reach their educational goals and
shape their future. Among the largest community colleges in California, Mesa serves
25,000 students per year, 25% of whom are full-time. Mesa offers nearly 200 associate
degree and certificate programs and is one of 15 California community colleges offering
a four-year baccalaureate degree. Mesa ranks as San Diego’s top transfer institution,
is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), an Asian American and Native American
Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and a Military Friendly School, serving
nearly 2,500 veterans and their families. www.sdmesa.edu.
Find San Diego Mesa College on Social Media:
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Tags: California Community Colleges, Diversity, Mesa Foundation, President Ashanti Hands, award, equity, SD Mesa College