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 Board of Trustees Biographies

This page presents biographies of the members of the Board of Trustees:
 
Trustee Area 5  
Trustee Area 2  
Trustee Area 4  
Trustee Area 1  
Trustee Area 3  


Madeline Shapiro, Trustee Area 5
President
Term of Office 2009-2013

Ms. Shapiro was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 3, 2009.  She represents Trustee Area 5, which includes East Whittier.  

BIOGRAPHY

Madeline Shapiro grew up in Pico Rivera attending public schools and Rio Hondo Community College before earning a Business Administration degree from California State University at Long Beach.  She moved into the East Whittier area before the birth of her daughter over thirty-one years ago.  She also has a son and a granddaughter.

After becoming a mother she grew interested in changing professions from accounting to teaching.  She started as a parent volunteer and became an instructional aide and substitute teacher while earning a teaching credential from California State University at Fullerton.

Ms. Shapiro has taught in the East Whittier City School District for over 20 years where she has been actively involved as a teacher-leader well beyond the classroom including serving as president (now ex officio) of the East Whittier Education Association.

Presently Madeline Shapiro is the California Teachers Association/Association for Better Citizenship Committee Member for her district and the CTA State Council Member for her local association.  She also serves as an elected delegate for the state Democratic Party in the 56th Assembly District.

 Demographic Information on Trustee Area #5:

Total Population 80,316
Hispanic 52.38%
White 40.55%
Black/AM 0.99%
Am. Indian/Alaskan 0.29%
Asian 3.84%
Nat. Hawaiian/Other Pl 0.12%
Other Race 0.12%
Pop of 2 or more Races 1.72%
Voting Population 71.25%

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Vicky SantanaVicky Santana, Trustee Area 2
Vice President
Term of Office 2011-2015


Ms. Santana was elected to the Board of Trustees November 8, 2011. She represents Trustee Area 2 which includes the City of Pico Rivera.

BIOGRAPHY

Vicky Santana presently works as a manager for the Los Angeles County Probation Department after having served for seven years with Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina as Senior Justice Deputy, of which five years she also was the supervisor’s Education Deputy. During this time, Santana oversaw $4 billion worth of law enforcement-related budgets, and worked directly alongside the supervisor to significantly increase Sheriff’s Deputy patrol levels in unincorporated neighborhoods, like West Whittier, for the first time in 30 years. They also joined Sheriff Lee Baca to bring the Graffiti Tracker to Pico Rivera, widely credited for putting a huge dent in the city’s graffiti problem.

In her educational capacity with the supervisor, Santana helped roll out the LA Universal Preschool (LAUP) initiative to provide preschool to all four-year-olds in underserved communities—including Pico Rivera and West Whittier. Santana also monitored the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the largest HEAD Start program administrator in the nation.

Born in East Los Angeles and a product of the Montebello Unified School District, Santana graduated at the top of her Bell Gardens High School class, and was the first in her family to attend an Ivy League institution: Columbia University. She attributes her escape from poverty to the education she obtained at Whittier College, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree. Santana then spent several years in the private sector, but when she unexpectedly received the opportunity to study at Harvard University’s prestigious Kennedy School of Government, Santana took it, and ultimately graduated with a Master’s Degree in Public Policy.

Demographic Information on Trustee Area 2:

Total Population 80,171
Hispanic 84.53%
White 11.36%
Black/Am 0.51%
Am. Indian/Alaskan 0.32%
Asian 2.36%
Nat. Hawaiian/Other Pl 0.07%
Other Race 0.08%
Pop of 2 or more Races 0.77%
Voting Population 69.46%

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Gary Mendez, Trustee Area 4
Clerk
Term of Office 2011-2015

Gary Mendez was first elected to the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees in November 1999.  He was re-elected in 2003, 2007, and 2011.  Trustee Mendez was elected as Clerk of the Board of Trustees at the Annual Organizational Meeting held in December, 2008.  Mr. Mendez represents Trustee Area 4, which includes Los Nietos, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier and North Norwalk.

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Mendez is proud to be a public servant in the traditional sense, with core values of duty, honor, compassion, and service.  Mr. Mendez began giving back by working with community organizations and leaders long respected for their values and commitment.  His public service record includes working in local, county, regional, state and federal government.

In his seven years on the Board, Mr. Mendez has been a vocal advocate for students.  His goal is to ensure that Rio Hondo successfully meets the post-secondary educational needs of our communities now and in the years to come.  His accomplishments include:

  • Actively working to pass Measure A, the college’s first facilities construction bond in more than 40 years. Bond funds will allow for complete rehabilitation and augmentation of the Rio Hondo College campus;
  • Authoring the resolution establishing priority registration for US War Veterans;
  • Spearheading efforts to create off-site centers in South Whittier and El Monte to increase access to educational opportunities close to home;
  • Assisting single mothers attending Rio Hondo by creating a scholarship in honor of his mother Ruby and grandmother Rose;
  • Working to diversify the College’s administrative team to ensure the community sees itself in Rio Hondo’s internal leadership, which led to hiring the first Latina Superintendent/President;
  • Increasing access to Rio Hondo by enhancing community outreach and by promoting the college’s educational opportunities to all potential students in the community college district;
  • Ensuring proactive financial planning to ensure a balanced budget;
  • Encouraging policies and programs that guarantee a well-balanced academic program and quality student support services;
  • Increasing access to the College by making public transportation for students a priority and by working on initiatives to subsidize student passes; and
  • Responding to the needs of working families who want to attend college by creating Rio Hondo’s first weekend accelerated program that allows students to attend classes outside their work hours. 

Gary Mendez was born and raised in the Los Nietos-Whittier area, where his family has lived since 1856.  He graduated from Whittier High School and at age 18 was elected as the State Youth Chairman of the American GI Forum, a congressionally-chartered national veteran’s organization dedicated to civil rights and education.  Mr. Mendez was also elected to serve as its National Youth Chairman.  During his tenure, he worked with the American GI Forum to create separate districts/areas of representation for the Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees.  Mr. Mendez also worked with the Mexican American Political Association and the United Farm Workers on issues important to his community.

 While earning his associate’s degree in political science and paralegal studies at Rio Hondo, Mr. Mendez was elected to serve as student representative on the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees.  Mr. Mendez was also active in the Associated Student Body (ASB), the statewide Council of Student Body Governments, the California Student Association of Community Colleges and was elected student member of the California Community College Trustee Board.  He also founded and was the first president of the Rio Hondo Young Democrats. 

Mr. Mendez earned his bachelor’s degree in Government, with a minor in Ancient History, at California State University, Sacramento.  As a student, he worked for the Chief Clerk (Parliamentarian) of the California Assembly.  Additionally, Mr. Mendez worked for various members of the legislature in their Sacramento offices and on their campaigns. 

After graduation, Mr. Mendez worked as a paralegal for the Los Angeles County Chicano Employees Association preparing civil rights cases and employee grievances.  He also served in the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Governmental Affairs Department, working on regional issues that impact communities throughout Southern California.

Mr. Mendez has served as a member of then-Assemblywoman Grace Napolitano’s legislative staff, and as her volunteer coordinator and field director during her bid for Congress.  He was special assistant to the Congresswoman after she was elected to the House of Representatives.  Mr. Mendez has also worked as a field deputy for then-Assemblyman Thomas Calderon. 

In 2004, Mr. Mendez was elected to the Democratic Party Los Angeles County Central Committee by democratic voters in the 56th Assembly District.  In May, 2005, he was elected to serve on the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party.  In the same year, State Party Chairman Art Torres appointed Mr. Mendez to serve on the State Democratic Party’s Organizational Development Committee.

Mr. Mendez is President and CEO of Urban Strategies (West), a governmental, public and political affairs firm. 

Mr. Mendez holds a third degree Black Belt in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu/Kenpo Karate and has taught the art to students of all ages for more than 20 years. 

www.garymendez.com

Demographic Information on Trustee Area 4:

Total Population 80,359
Hispanic 74.43%
White 17.35%
Black/AM 2.23%
Am. Indian/Alaskan 0.42%
Asian 4.12%
Nat. Hawaiian/Other Pl 0.18%
Other Race 0.09%
Pop of 2 or more Races 1.18%
Voting Population 67.79%

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Norma Edith Garc
ía, Trustee Area 1
Member
Term of Office 2009-2013

Ms. Garcia was was elected to the Board of Trustees in November, 2009.  She represents Trustee Area 1 which includes the City of El Monte. 

BIOGRAPHY

Norma Edith García attended Citrus Community College, transferred and graduated from UCLA, earning a B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in Urban Planning.  She presently serves as the Deputy Director of the Planning and Development Agency for Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation.  As the Deputy Director, Ms. García oversees environmental & regulatory permitting, land acquisition & obligation, park & facility master planning, architecture & design, and water & environmental planning for an inventory of 94 local and regional parks, 14 lakes and lagoons, 15 natural areas, 4 arboreta and botanic gardens and  65,528 of recreational acreage.

Previously, Ms. García served as the Community and Environmental Deputy to Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina and was responsible for policy development in a myriad of environmental and open space issues.  As an advisor to Supervisor Molina, Ms. García was instrumental in the creation of the Elysian Valley Gateway in Los Angeles, Thienes Gateway Park in South El Monte, San Jose Creek Vista in Unincorporated Avocado Heights, Cudahy/Riverfront Greenway Project, and various other Emerald Necklace projects in the San Gabriel Valley.  Prior to that, she served as an Associate Regional Planner for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) where she was responsible for regional housing planning and policy development and developed specific regional plans and coordinating housing planning activities among regional stakeholders.

Ms. García is an ardent believer of building better communities, and works to achieve this through her active participation in numerous civic and professional organizations, including: El Monte Coalition of Latino Professionals (emCLP), Latino Urban Forum, and Hispanics Organized for Political Equality (HOPE).  Ms. García currently serves as the Chair of the California Community Foundation’s ‘Community Building Initiative’, which is a 10-year effort to revitalize the community by engaging residents and developing their leadership, and improving the physical environment and social services.  Ms. García formerly served as the Chair of the El Monte City Planning Commission and the Watershed Conservation Authority for the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles River Watersheds.   

Ms. García has been honored as the 49th Assembly District Latina of the Year in Community Involvement, graduated from the HOPE Leadership Institute, and was awarded a Conflict Resolution Fellowship through the U.S. State Department, which allowed her travel and focus on resolving complex planning issues in Indonesia. Ms. García enjoys traveling, cycling, and spending time outdoors. Ms. García is a life-long resident of the beautiful community of El Monte.

Demographic Information on Trustee Area #1:

Total Population 80,402
Hispanic 70.38%
White 7.83%
Black/AM 0.66%
Am. Indian/Alaskan 0.30%
Asian 19.73%
Nat. Hawaiian/Other Pl 0.08%
Other Race 0.09%
Pop of 2 or more Races 0.94%
Voting Population 66.12%

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Angela Acosta-Salazar, Trustee Area 3 ,
Member,
Term of Office 2009-2013

Ms. Acosta-Salazar was re-elected to the Board of Trustees on November 3, 2009. 
Ms. Acosta-Salazar was first elected to the Board in November, 2005. Trustee Acosta-Salazar was elected as Vice President of the Board of Trustees at the Annual Organizational Meeting held in December, 2008.
Sh
e represents Trustee Area 3 which includes the City of Whittier and
South El Monte. 


BIOGRAPHY

Honorable Angela Acosta-Salazar

Trustee Angela Acosta-Salazar, has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Rio Hondo College since 2005 and is a dedicated community college educator and community leader. Angela knows first hand the importance of higher education, being the first in her family to attend college. As an educator, Angela has instructed hundreds of students in the Social Sciences and provides a forum for academic excellence and personal development. Angela understands how important the community college system is to women, young adults and families, and is a strong advocate for access, affordability and success for students entering higher education.

Angela is currently earning a Doctorate in Education, with an emphasis on leadership in higher education, at California State University at Long Beach and is CEO of the Salazar Family household. Professionally, Angela has dedicated herself to the issues of higher education and community empowerment. Angela has served as an adjunct instructor for over ten years, teaching in the Los Angeles Community College District. For the last twenty years, Angela has been a community servant in the nonprofit field serving as the Community Leadership Mentoring Coordinator for Puente, as Director of the HOPE Leadership Institute, as Director of Public Relations for Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, and as a Deputy Director for the William C. Velasquez Institute, a research and policy institute.

As a volunteer, Angela has dedicated her time to the Rio Hondo College Foundation and is a member of the So. El Monte/El Monte Soroptimist Club, Whittier League of Women Voters, and the American Association of University Women.

Angela resides in Whittier with her husband Alfonso and sons Alfonso IV, Lorenzo and Rafael. Angela was raised in Colton California and graduated from Colton High School. She completed her B.A. degree in Sociology from the University of California at Irvine and earned a Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico.

Demographic Information on Trustee Area  3:

Total Population 80,171
Hispanic 76.64%
White 12.69%
Black/AM .052%
Am. Indian/Alaskan 0.35%
Asian 8.60%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pl 0.09%
Other Race 0.12%
Pop of 2 or more Races 0.99%
Voting Population 68.00%

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