President's Office

Reports to the Board of Trustees

March 9, 2026, Board Meeting

Each month, President Kristina Whalen gives a report on college activities, honors, and achievements during the regular meeting of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees.

View Board Reports Archive

Awards & Achievements

Approval of BDP in Building Trades Management

February 19, 2026

Foothill College has received full approval from the California Community College Board of Governors to launch a new Bachelor of Science in Building Trades Management—our third bachelor’s degree. The program creates a clear pathway for registered apprentices and working professionals to advance into leadership roles in the building and construction trades. Congratulations to the Foothill College Apprenticeship and Workforce teams on this exciting milestone!

Thank you to Chris Allen, Phuong Tran, and Teresa Ong.

League for Innovation Member Spotlight Publication

March 2026

President Whalen authored an article high lighting support for innovation through culture pods at Foothill College.  

President Whalen will present on the use of culture pods with Lene Whitley-Putz and Allison Meezan at the League for Innovation Conference on March 16th. 

 

The following faculty and staff will be honored at this year's League for Innovation event:

 

Lene Whitley-Putz
Lene Whitley-Putz is honored with the Excellence in Innovation Award for her visionary leadership in transforming teaching and learning at Foothill College. Working alongside a dynamic team of instructional designers, Lene has championed student-centered online education grounded in accessibility and meaningful engagement. Her leadership in professional learning—through initiatives like POCR and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy—has empowered faculty to embrace reflective and inclusive teaching practices. Through her pilot of emerging technologies, including the AI tool RUMI, and her forward-looking vision for faculty development, Lene ensures that educators are prepared to thrive in an evolving digital landscape while deepening connection and inclusion in every classroom.

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Allison Meezan
Allison Meezan is celebrated for her remarkable leadership and dedication to fostering a culture of innovation across Foothill College. As Interim SLO Coordinator, she revitalized the outcomes assessment process, engaging faculty in meaningful reflection and leading the development of new Institutional Learning Outcomes. As Chair of the Teaching with Technology Committee, Allison has guided campus discussions on artificial intelligence with extraordinary care and insight, ensuring that questions of ethics, equity, and access remain at the forefront of technological innovation. Her thoughtful, inclusive approach has positioned Foothill as a leader in harnessing technology to enhance learning and community engagement.

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Konstantin Kalaitzidis
Konstantin Kalaitzidis is recognized for his exceptional contributions to advancing hands-on, interdisciplinary innovation through the Emerging Technology Institute. As Program Coordinator, he has built and sustained the infrastructure that empowers students and employees to explore new frontiers in AI, blockchain, extended reality, quantum sciences, and more. Through projects like the Principia publication and his collaboration with TTW on robotics, Konstantin nurtures creativity, experimentation, and discovery across disciplines. His tireless commitment to mentoring students and fostering an environment where curiosity drives learning has made him a cornerstone of Foothill’s innovative spirit.

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Zach Cembellin
Zach Cembellin is honored for his inspiring leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing innovation in STEM education. As Dean of STEM, Zach provides visionary guidance for the Emerging Technology Institute and the Foothill AI Fellows program, encouraging a transformative culture that bridges technology, learning, and human connection. His dedication to empowering faculty and staff, coupled with his advocacy for resources that enable authentic, hands-on learning, has significantly strengthened the college’s capacity for technological innovation. Through his leadership, Zach continues to elevate Foothill’s role as a forward-thinking institution where creativity, inclusion, and exploration thrive.

Thank you to Lené, Allison, Zach, and Konstantin for their exceptional contributions.

Accreditation Update—Respiratory Care

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) voted to reaffirm continuing accreditation to the AS Degree Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice Program at Foothill College.

The CoARC's accreditation review confirms that the program is in compliance with the nationally established accreditation standards. The next comprehensive evaluation of the program, which will include a site visit, is scheduled to occur no later than 2035.

Thank you to Brenda Hanning, Lisa Hills, Adam Thompson, and our part-time faculty in respiratory therapy, and the president's cabinet.

CPR Training Site

Foothill EMS became an AHA CPR training site, allowing us to issue BLS cards for EMR, EMT, and other allied health programs. These changes have strengthened pathways, increased access, and improved program support.

Thank you to our EMS faculty member Glenn Kurisu.

Best Feature Screenplay

Congratulations to Media Studies instructor Eduardo Rufeisen! Eduardo’s feature screenplay NYX has won Best Feature Screenplay at the New York Screenplay Competition, standing out among 250+ submissions from around the world. The jury praised its exceptional world-building, visual imagination, and sustained narrative tension—earning an outstanding 9.0 average score. We’re proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement and the creative excellence Eduardo brings to our community!

Congratulations to Eduardo Rufeisen!

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Strategic Updates

Offering 1st Pell Ready Certificate

Spring

Foothill College’s Payroll Preparation Certificate is a short-term, career-focused program designed for students who want to start a career in payroll—or strengthen their existing payroll and accounting skills.

In just 12 weeks, students gain practical, real-world training employers value while earning accounting units that apply toward CPA requirements.

Thank you to Janie Garcia, Aaron Korngeibel, and the Foothill College Accounting faculty for getting this certificate designed and approved.

AI Fellows

Winter Update

Foothill’s inaugural AI Fellows cohort is now fully underway, with 18 fellows—students, faculty, deans, supervisors, and classified professionals—meeting regularly since their launch on January 7 to guide the college’s approach to artificial intelligence. Organized into four subgroups—Community, Equity & Communication; Policy & Governance; Curriculum, Literacy & Professional Learning; and Integration, Testing & Data—the fellows are advancing work on campus-wide surveys and forums, draft AI policy elements, curated AI literacy resources, and tool testing using the college’s adopted technology rubric. Early highlights include a draft campus AI survey and Padlet space for ongoing dialogue, a CS 47 “AI for All” course proposal and Google Education Accelerator participation with 500 advanced training licenses, as well as initial evaluations of tools like Google Gemini to ensure they align with Foothill’s values and student success goals. AI Fellows presentation.

STEM Welcome Center

The third Career and Academic Pwathways (CAP) aligned student facing space has completed its renovation. Thanks to a generous donation from Bill Rutter and Judy Miner, the STEM Welcome Center provides STEM students with a one-stop place to explore STEM opportunities and be in community with one another.

Bookstore Services Move to the Cloud, Freeing 5,000+ Square Feet for Increased Student Use

Starting on March 6, all bookstore services will move online. Students will be able to order all course materials and have them delivered to their homes, or, if they do not have a fixed address, items can be mailed directly to the Foothill College Welcome Center, where students can pick up their orders. In addition, free Bluebooks, pens, Scantron forms, etc., are available at multiple campus locations.

Free Hot Lunch at Main Campus

Thanks to the Foothill-De Anza Foundation and our partnership with the World Food Movement (WFM), Foothill College’s main campus has officially begun providing hot meals to students, with over 150 students stopping by the Owls Nest during the March 2 soft launch and ongoing service every Monday from now on. WFM is rooted in compassion and the belief that no one should go hungry; this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to ensuring students can focus on their education without the burden of food insecurity.

Thank you to Dennis Cima and the Foundation team, and Catalina Rodriquez and Sonya Sanchez in our Campus Center for making this happen!

Fine Arts Donor Support

Several gifts came in supporting our Fine Arts & Communication programs, clear evidence of the meaningful, high-impact learning experiences happening every day. Ceramics received a generous $10,000 gift from a single donor, along with $6,000 in additional donations. Photography received a $2,500 gift from a darkroom student, matched by the student’s employer, Google, bringing the total to $5,000 for the Photography Endowment. Technical Theatre was supported once again by an anonymous donor with a $1,000 gift. These contributions reflect the care, creativity, and mentorship that our faculty bring to their classrooms, and how deeply that work resonates with students and supporters alike.

Thank you to Andy Ruble (ceramics), Joshua Smith (photography), Judy Walgren (photography), Leigh Henderson (Technical Theatre).

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Events

Ethnic Studies Summit

March 4, 2026

The 5th annual Ethnic Studies Summit included a keynote speaker, workshops, a poetry recitation by Foothill College's Poet Laureate, Marvin Herandez Flores, and information about ethnic studies at Foothill College.

The summit was hosted in person and brought together local high school students and Foothill College students.

Thank you to Ulysses Acevedo, Scott Tsuchitani, Sheherazade Arasnia, Valerie Fong, and Sandra Habmatu.

College Kickstart Enrollment Days

February 20 and 24

Nearly 300 students met with a counselor and received support registering for classes on February 20 and 24. 

Thank you to Foothill College Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, Assessment, Counseling, and Outreach teams.