October 2025 Update

On behalf of Dr. James Ortez, Interim Vice President of Instruction:

I am writing the October Instructional Update on November 2, El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Admittedly, I have not offered an Ofrenda (altars with offerings to the deceased which are also an art form and a personal expression of love and serve the purpose of remembrance and celebration of a life lived) to the love ones I honor today, but these folks are still close to my heart. As I am watching Red Zone, I am thinking of my Tio Art. He passed during the Pandemic and not a day goes by that I wish I could pick up the phone to hear a corny off-color joke or stop by and give him smack about his beloved Raiders. He was hard working, in fact he didn’t finish HS, because he had to work to support his family, but he went back as an adult to get his GED, and folks - everyone - loved him. He was a manager at various Goodyear stores in Madera and Fresno. If a store was underperforming, he was moved to that store. Store after store was improved. No college, no business classes. Just hard work and good customer service. He made everyone feel valued. I strive to honor him every day. (Oh my, the Raiders just scored.)

From Dean Menefee, Division of Physical and Computational Sciences and Distance Education

We had several instructional groups and clubs participate in STEM Day on October 8th including the Chemistry Department – Tyler Johns and Dr. Derek Dormedy, Engineering Renaissance Club – Club Advisor Gurinder Khaira, Society of Physics and Math Legends (SPML)* – Club Advisor Dr. Nathan Inan, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM Club) – Club Advisor Bill Kerney. All groups had a great time sharing their love for STEM with our K-12 partner students!

We finally have a full support team for our AgTEC program including Dr. Juan Carlos Cervantes (Instructional Faculty), Jose Mundo Tapia (Student Success Coach), Brittany Zenz (Senior Program Specialist), and Maria Sanchez (Student Worker). We are now recruiting for the January cohort of AgTEC students.

We have many research projects with students going on throughout the division. One to highlight is Tyler Johns’ research group. They have been successful, and are having fun, synthesizing quantum dots. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanoparticles with unique electronic and optical properties, and they fluoresce under UV light. Applications of quantum dots include electronic displays, solar cells, and high-resolution medical imaging. We’re currently exploring and optimizing several reaction procedures. (Image attached)

Physics instructors Dr. Nathan Inan and Dr. Tony Abbot would like to give a huge shout out to Lukyon Mendrin, Science Laboratory Coordinator, for doing an amazing job in his very first semester. Along with balancing support for the chemistry and geology departments, Lukyon has been instrumental in helping the Physics program grow and prepare a second fully function lab room in AC1 214.

*New club on campus: Society of Physics and Math Legends (SPML). The club is now officially established and growing. Five officers have been appointed, the constitution has been ratified, we already participated in multiple events, and we even created some great looking “merch” for fundraising purposes! Currently we have about 10 people actively involved and a total of 20 people registered on our Canvas shell.

PTK Honors Society advisor Dr. David Cao led nine students this past weekend (Oct 24-25) to the PTK NV/CA Region’s Fall Leadership Conference, held just south of San Francisco, with financial support from ASG travel funds. Highlights of the event included keynote speakers now serving in leadership roles in fintech, AI for CRM, and education, some of whom were also community college graduates. Students also participated in breakout sessions designed to build skills in areas such as leadership, time management, communication, and networking.

American Physical Society (APS) Far West Section Meeting at UC Santa Cruz (Oct 11-12) – We had two students (Zach G and Diego H) prepare posters and attend the conference. This is the first time ever that CCC students presented at a professional physics conference! Dr. Nathan Inan also gave a talk on the research which was titled “Parallels between Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and quantum linearized General Relativity (GR)”

American Chemical Society (ACS) Western Regional Meeting (Oct 25-26) – Three chemistry students attended along with Chemistry instructor Dr. Derek Dormedy. They prepared and presented a poster on Water Quality in the Sierras. The research and poster were a continuation of the summer Chem 10 class where students backpacked through Yosemite National Park, while taking the class and conducting research.

(Jacksonville's Cam Little just kicked the longest FG in NFL history - 68 yards)

From Dean Hill, Division of Natural and Health Sciences

The Mesa Center hosted the STEM Faculty Meet and Greet on October 3rd where students had the opportunity to connect with STEM faculty, learn more about each department, and receive important information on potential research/job opportunities within the department. Special thank you to Dr. David Cao for leading this effort!

On Saturday, October 18th the MESA and PODER programs collaborated on a trip to send 30 Clovis Community College students to the UC Davis Pre Health Conference. The UC Davis Pre Health Conference is the largest pre health conference in the country where students have access to over a hundred different medical/health program representatives and workshops. Special thanks to Professors Rebekah Villalta, Arron Ridenour, and our Biology Faculty, for joining students on this fantastic trip.

On every Friday during the month of October, our incredible STEM Faculty and Classified Staff run the MESA Research Journal Club (MRJC). The MRJC aims to connect students to primary research/literature and helps students develop the skills to properly examine research papers, an understanding of how to go through a research paper, and a foundation to critique research and develop ideas for future research directions/considerations. The MRJC has covered the following research topics: Discovery of small-molecule enzyme activators by activity-based protein profiling, Keto−Enol Tautomerization of Acetylacetone in Mixed Solvents by NMR Spectroscopy, Metagenomic assembled plasmids of the human microbiome vary across disease cohorts, and Attenuation of quorum sensing in the pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii using non-native N-acyl homoserine lactones. A very special thanks to Tyler Johns, Candice Cortney, Dr. Rosa Alcazar, and Dr. Amy Danowitz for their dedication to providing students with this incredible experience!

The application cycle for Cohort 6 of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program officially closed on October 15th, with an impressive total of 66 applications received! That’s a fourfold increase since the program’s launch in 2022, when we received just 15 applications. A special thanks to Brandon Huebert for his dedication in guiding students through their prerequisites and ensuring they’re fully prepared to apply.

Our Biology 17-Wildlife and Plant Conservation Field Methods course is crushin' it in the field! Students have completed two major field projects at the San Joaquin River Gorge and Dinkey Creek, where they gained extensive hands-on experience in wildlife monitoring and research. As part of these projects, students deployed numerous trail cameras that successfully captured a wide variety of wildlife, including Pacific Martens, Gray Foxes, Coyotes, and several small mammal species. They also practiced deploying small mammal traps and collected detailed measurements and data on Lodgepole Chipmunks. Throughout the course, several students have secured paid or volunteer positions with conservation organizations, allowing them to apply their skills in real-world settings. In addition, students are conducting independent research projects, with some preparing manuscripts for submission to scientific journals and others presenting their findings at local conferences. A special thanks to Dr. Malachi Whitford and Dr. Grace Freymiller for their passion and energy in providing these amazing experiences for our students.

From Dean Diaz, Division of Social Sciences

Thank you to the following faculty - Erin Lane, Spencer Irish, Dr. Cindy Walker-Cumbie, Robin Huigen, Jenna Irish, Dr. Rebekah Villalta and Dr. Megan Bennett for supporting the K16 STEM education pathway grant. As part of our grant, we are mentoring future teachers, which also includes showing them how field trips can contribute to real life learning opportunities. All the previous listed gave up their Friday or Saturday to take students to the Chaffee Zoo and work on educational units.

On October 9th, Megan Bennett pulled off another great STEM Day event for our high school partners to come and learn about the different pathways within our STEM program. We had a great keynote speaker with Dr. Pamela Seda. A big thank you to our faculty who were able to come out and set up tables to showcase their disciplines: Bill Kearney, Nader Inan, Gurinder Khaira, Malachi Whitford, Michael Vongsa and, of course, Derek Dormedy. Also big thanks to Tyler Johns for helping out. Over 100 students were able to join us. There may or may not have been a chemical reaction that left some marks on the grass area…..oh those chemistry guys!! A big thank you to our Engineer Renaissance Club for bringing out their catapult trebuchet and doing some pumpkin chuckin!!

In our Psychology 25 class, Professor Lane again brought the annual sheep brain dissection lab. This is a hands-on application of the concepts learned in the first month of class. Students work in groups through a series of directed cuts that allow for close observation of various brain systems. Guided questioning and exploration allow students to apply their knowledge of anatomical directions as well as brain structure function and connectivity. Students complete the section with a superior understanding of neuroanatomy and the relationship between the brain and behavior. (Baaaaa)

From Interim Dean Mattox, Division of Humanities & Athletics

From the Stacks: During October, our Clovis Community College Librarians -Brooke Ramos, Alicia Diaz Wrest, Raina Yang, Sue Weber, and Megan Barbeau- taught 19 Library Instruction sessions. These course-integrated sessions are designed in collaboration with instructors to help students develop research skills specific to their assignments. On Thursday, October 9, the Library hosted a Student Poetry and Banned Books Event, which had a fantastic turnout of both students and faculty. Later in the month, on October 20, the Library staff took home 1st place in the annual Pumpkin Contest—congratulations to the team for their creativity and enthusiasm!

From the Sidelines: The groundbreaking ceremony for the new ISE Diamond L.I.F.E. Sports Complex was held on October 8. Jamie De La Cerda, Founder and CEO of Diamond L.I.F.E., along with her sons Isaiah, Samuel, and Elijah, were recognized for their generous contributions to Crush Athletics. A highlight of the event was the De La Cerda family surprising our Director of Athletics, James Sewell, with a customized golf cart—a thoughtful gesture of appreciation for his leadership and dedication to both the Clovis community and Crush Athletics.

Under James Sewell’s direction, Crush Athletics continues to thrive, and we can all take pride in the outstanding program being built for our student-athletes. Our student-athletes continue to pursue excellence in competition while bringing recognition and pride to Clovis Community College. The Men’s Cross Country team (coached by Professor and marathoner CJ Albertson) captured their third consecutive CVC Championship, with student-athlete Davis Bosch placing first overall in the men’s race. The Women’s Cross Country team also performed exceptionally, finishing second behind COS. Meanwhile, Women’s Volleyball, led by new Head Coach Mark Rosen, is currently in second place in the CVC—an incredible accomplishment for a first-year program. (Come see the Crush battle for a conference co-championship against FCC this Wednesday, November 5, 6p, at Valley Athletics, 5097 E. Dakota Ave.)

The Commercial Music program partnered with Fresno State and FMCMEA to record audition materials for K-12 students across Fresno and Madera County in preparation of the honor band and honor orchestra. Our Recording class also hosted the Buchanan High School Big Band to record one of the songs that they will be submitting to Downbeat Magazine for a national competition. This month’s Gallery Exhibit featured a collaboration between Tony Gennaro, Max Hembd, and music students Christopher, Yasmine, and Alegria Garcia. The Garcia family put on a very compelling concert on Monday October 13 and an artist talk on early Meso-American music and culture.

(Please be on the lookout for the Music Program’s Fall Concert, Tuesday November 11, 7p, Shaghoian Hall (CNHS); and the Faculty Art Show, with a reception on November12, AC1-Art Gallery - A sampling of work from Art Faculty, organized by Lindsey Weaver, Kirtley King, and Anna Ingels.)

Some final thoughts:

1. I am reposting an email VP Tippins sent last Friday, please consider:

Due to the ongoing government shutdown, many students are expected to experience a month-long delay in their November CalFresh food benefits. These benefits provide up to $298 per month to help cover essential groceries. For students already balancing school, work, and financial pressures, this disruption will make it even harder to stay focused and succeed.

Our Crush Pantry expects increased demand in the coming weeks, and we need your help to ensure that no one goes hungry.

How You Can Help:

🥫 Donate nonperishable food items to the Crush Pantry through our Amazon Wishlist or drop items off in the Crush Pantry (AC2-173) or Basic Needs Center (AC2- 273) between 9am-4pm. If you would like our team to pick up the items from your office, please email Bonita Gomez at bonita.gomez@cloviscollege.edu.

💳 Make a donation (tax-deductible) to the Crush Pantry Fund or a payroll deduction through the following link: Crush Pantry page

Thank you for your continued compassion and commitment to student success. Together, we can show our students that their college community cares and is here to support them through challenging times.

2. I was out, it seemed for many days in October. I attended the Collective Equity Conference and the Fall CIO (Chief Executive Officer) meetings, both in Irvine, (different hotels, thankfully I checked before I drove down the second time) a week apart. While pulling me away from campus, both events provided me with opportunities to learn from others, have deep and meaningful discourse, and I returned invigorated, and excited to serve (even with driving back on a Friday through LA and Fresno afternoon traffic. Twice!). Reading through all the activities covered above across the Divisions -in only one month!- is truly inspiring and makes me proud to represent Clovis.
3. I wish I could say I am happy for those fans of the blue team from down south (you know who you are - Brandon, Omar, Reynani, Ruben…). I wish for lots of things; I’ll add that to the list.
4. Please stay kind to each other. We’ll get through weeks 13-16 together.

(Raiders lost in Overtime, failing on a 2-point conversion with 16 seconds left. Gotta admit, it would have been a miracle.)