Community 2024-2025 Report to Our Community
Welcome Message
Dear San Diego College of Continuing Education Supporter,
Thank you for taking the time to read San Diego College of Continuing Education’s 2024-25 Report to Our Community. As the adult-serving, noncredit arm of the San Diego Community College District and California’s largest noncredit institution dedicated to adult education and workforce development, your College of Continuing Education is proud to offer anyone who walks through our doors an array of more than 300 free, on-campus, online and hybrid certificate programs and classes that are empowering our students – including low-income, justice-impacted, first-generation, military veterans, former foster youth, immigrants and refugees.
For those who are unfamiliar, noncredit curriculum and instructional programs offered through California’s community colleges provide short-term, practical skills that lead to a certificate and career advancement. They focus on areas such as vocational training, workforce preparation, and basic skills that are lifting students out of poverty by opening pathways to good paying careers in high demand industries and transfer opportunities for those who are seeking an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Such programs are becoming increasingly popular among students wishing to avoid rising college costs and unsustainable debt.
Because of your support and the backing of our community and numerous partners, San Diego College of Continuing Education is preparing students to thrive in the healthcare industry, innovate at Michelin-star restaurants, and take what they’ve learned to pay it forward as educators, business owners, IT professionals, welders, and so much more.
Like many of you, the past year has brought moments that called for resilience, focus, heart-work, and adaptability - and through it all, our commitment to serving the community has never wavered. It is for that reason that I am honored to serve as President of this wonderful institution. At San Diego College of Continuing Education, we are all moving forward together.
Warmly,
Dr. Tina M. King
President
San Diego College of Continuing Education
Dear Community,
The San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation was established to support the San Diego College of Continuing Education by providing resources and financial support for college programs and services and scholarships to deserving students.
I am honored to report that we continued to meet this mission during the 2024-25 academic year. Highlights include providing a record-breaking $110,000 in scholarships and awards to students who have returned to the classroom as adults and are planning to transition to a career or credit college. In addition, the Foundation played a significant role in raising funds for an extensive renovation and modernization of the historic Educational Cultural Complex theatre in Southeast San Diego; establishing a new Business Resource Center at the César E. Chávez Campus in Barrio Logan; and securing a $689,000 grant from the Lucky Duck Foundation in support of a Pathways Program for students experiencing homelessness.
A tax-exempt nonprofit, the Foundation plays a key role in ensuring the tuition-free, adult education arm of the San Diego Community College District continues to create new opportunities for our students while serving our community. For example, partnerships include the highly successful Employee Training Institute, also known as ETi), which provides high-quality training solutions and services to both public and private organizations. Our goals in the coming year include strengthening such partnerships, leveraging external funding and collaborative agreements to enhance workforce training and support services for adult learners.
It is a privilege working with an organization serving students from diverse backgrounds, and it is an honor to partner with our community in serving the greater good.
Gratefully,
Dr. Tami Foy CEO/Executive Director
San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation
By the Numbers
Student headcount for 2024-2025 23,317
Student Race/Ethnicity Demographics
Student Age Demographics
Short-term career training programs and classes include areas such as:
Automotive
Business Information Technology (B.I.T.)
Child Development
Clothing and Textiles
Digital Media and Programming
English as a Second Language
Healthcare
Hospitality and Culinary Arts
Skilled and Technical Trades
High School Diploma/Equivalency
Emeritus Classes for age 55+
Disability Support Programs and Services
10,761
Certificates and Diplomas awarded in 2024-25!
A New Chapter for a Historic Theatre
It wasn’t just a celebration, but also a reawakening. That’s how President King described the May 8, 2025, ceremonial groundbreaking for an extensive renovation and modernization of the historic Educational Cultural Complex theatre that has hosted the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, and others since its opening nearly a half-century ago.
Construction of the $50-million project was fully underway a little more than a month later. The project is funded through a $35-million state grant secured by then-California Senate President pro tempore Toni G. Atkins in 2021, and approximately $15 million via Measure HH, a bond measure approved by San Diego voters in November of 2024.
The renovated theatre will deliver significant upgrades, including advanced acoustics and modern sound and lighting systems; a reimagined stage and seating layout; more inviting foyers; enhanced outdoor patio areas; improved accessibility; a “Living Archive” cultural center to preserve and share the theatre’s legacy; and a multiuse community room. Construction is tentatively expected to be completed by December of 2026.
“The Educational Cultural Complex Theatre has been a cornerstone of arts and culture in the Southeastern San Diego community for nearly 50 years,” said San Diego College of Continuing Education President Tina M. King, Ed.D. “For generations, it has served as a vibrant hub where creativity, education, and community come together—uplifting voices, showcasing talent, and telling the stories that matter most to our diverse community. This renovation is not just about restoring a building; it’s about honoring a rich legacy and investing in a future where the arts continue to thrive and serve our community for decades.”
The theatre’s highlights are many. Just three years after it was built, Caryn Elaine Johnson, who later became known as Academy Award-winning actress Whoopie Goldberg, starred in the 1979 production of The Sty of the Blind Pig by ECC-based Southeastern Community Theatre, which was renamed Common Ground Theatre in 2003. Coretta Scott King in 1985 delivered a powerful address at the packed theatre and in 1986, Grammy Awardwinning artist Stevie Wonder was honored at the theatre for his extensive humanitarian efforts. In 1987, civil rights activist, poet, and author Maya Angelou spoke at the Educational Cultural Complex to promote voter registration. That same year, Muhammad Ali stopped by during one of the heavyweight champion boxer’s many visits to San Diego to inspire students and support the local Black community. Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson addressed a capacity crowd in 1987, and more recently, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Nash Weber in August of 2024 spoke to more than 300 higher education leaders during the college’s fall convocation.
San Diego-based HGA is leading the design and planning efforts for the project, which in 2024 secured a Professional Design Award from the California Community College Facilities Coalition. PCL Construction Services is managing construction.
A New Vice President
The San Diego College of Continuing Education in December of 2024 hired Dr. Masahiro Omae as its new Vice President of Instructional Services. Dr. Omae, who has been a dedicated leader in the San Diego Community College District since 2014, brings more than a decade of experience in higher education leadership, program management, noncredit to credit development expertise, and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Omae began his distinguished career at the district in 2014 as the sole full-time political science faculty member at San Diego City College. He went on to serve as the Dean of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Consumer and Family Studies at City College, where he oversaw 17 instructional programs and led multiple strategic initiatives to improve student success, enrollment, and academic quality. With his extensive background in higher education administration and faculty leadership, Dr. Omae is already making a significant impact in advancing the College of Continuing Education mission to provide accessible and high-quality education to all communities.
From Adult High School to San Diego State University
Monica Moysen found what she was looking for when she walked through the doors at San Diego College of Continuing Education’s High School Diploma/Equivalency Program. Thanks to the care, support and enthusiasm showering her when she arrived, the 43-year-old former high school dropout discovered a pathway to San Diego State University, where she just completed her junior year as a communication major – with a minor in Latin American and Chicana and Chicano studies – and is now planning to parlay her success into a postgraduate degree and career as a college professor.
“I’m doing things I never thought would be possible,” said Moysen.
After more than two decades of living without a high school diploma or equivalent, Moysen turned to the College of Continuing Education and its flagship campus, the Educational Cultural Complex in Southeastern San Diego. That was in 2017. She earned her GED within a year, took a San Diego City College course at the ECC campus, and began working with counselors in mapping out a strategy to earn a college degree.
“I was trying to figure out, ‘Okay, how do I apply to a college?’ They were talking about FAFSA, and I said, ‘Okay, what’s that?’ Just things I didn’t know. That’s where the counselors and everyone else at ECC were so helpful. They were like, ‘This is how you apply to college. This is what a FAFSA is, and this is how you fill out a FAFSA form.”
A year after she arrived at the ECC, Moysen transferred to San Diego Mesa College, where she was majoring in social work and holding down a solid 3.0 GPA, giving her the credentials to transfer to SDSU. Today, she’s intent on pursuing a master’s degree or a Ph.D. to reach her goal of teaching Chicano Studies at the college level.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here talking with you today as a student at San Diego State if it weren’t for the experience I had at Continuing Education. They never gave up on me, and if they wouldn’t give up on me, how could I give up on myself?”
From High School to Career
To the uninitiated, the first day of Oscar Aparicio’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) spring, 2025, semester class at San Diego College of Continuing Education’s Educational Cultural Complex was no different than the first day at any other of the hundreds of courses being taught at the college’s seven campuses. But this was a seminal moment: more than half of the 33 students perched at their desks on this day were from Lincoln High School who enrolled through a groundbreaking partnership aimed at expanding career opportunities for teens from the Southeastern San Diego Community.
“The way we’ve been doing school within our four walls is not designed for all students,” said Lori Williams, Lincoln High School’s College and Career Pathway coordinator. “We have students who are hungry for career training and eager to get certified for opportunities in the trades and be able to support themselves or help their families.”
That the program comes at no cost is critical to successful student outcomes. At Lincoln High School, just a mile east of the Educational Cultural Complex, nearly 86% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, or their parents did not graduate high school. Ninety-eight percent of minority populations, and 30% are English language learners.
“This is a great way to introduce younger people to the trades while providing them with marketable skills,” said Oscar Aparicio, a Marine Corps veteran leading the class who said he had to shell out $30,000 for the instruction San Diego College of Continuing Education is providing cost-free.
In fact, a growing body of research is finding that high school graduates are leaning more heavily into work-based learning and alternate pathways, rather than a four-year degree. “Many Gen Z youth are looking for faster, more economical, and more relevant on-ramps to meaningful jobs that offer life-sustaining wages and are aligned to their real interests,” states a 2023 survey from the nonprofit ECMC Group. A 2024 Education Dynamics report came to a similar finding, stating “the emphasis on practical skills and career-readiness is reshaping modern learners’ education preferences,” it states.
All but one of the Lincoln High School students completed the one-semester College of Continuing Education HVAC program, qualifying them to take a college-funded EPA certification exam. Pass that, and students become licensed HVAC technicians in an industry paying average annual salaries in the mid-$60,000 range.
“These are skills that will always be needed and always be in demand,” said student Kevin Morales.
A Focus on Well-being
In 2024–2025, San Diego College of Continuing Education embraced a college-wide theme of BeWell, inspired by the ongoing work of our BeWell CCE Mental Health Program. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to promoting wellness, connection, and healthy practices across the campus community.
Our Spring Institution Day centered around this theme, offering a variety of sessions focused on employee well-being, personal growth, and healthy practices. At the heart of the BeWell program are our two full-time mental health counselors, Jeremy Garcia and Tanisha Street, and part-time counselor Elizabeth “Liz” Barajas, who all provide compassionate, professional support to help students thrive—both academically and personally. Their work is essential to creating a supportive environment that empowers all currently enrolled students to achieve their goals and maintain emotional wellness throughout their educational journey.
Scholarships and Awards
The San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation presented a record-breaking $110,000 in scholarships and awards to students who have returned to the classroom as adults and are planning to transition to a career or to a credit college.
Among the recipients was Colin Geaghan, 30, who received the Emerging Leaders scholarship. While already a university graduate, Geaghan pursued a certificate in culinary arts at the College of Continuing Education to pivot career paths from business administration to hospitality. “Achieving this scholarship eases some of the financial pressure of going back to school. Living in San Diego is expensive, so this will offset some of those costs as well pay for the costs associated with getting my certificate like books, and class fees,” he said. “Once I’m done with the culinary programs, I’m hoping to become a private chef who specializes in holistic healing through food.”
Scholarships and awards are made possible through the generosity of donors – including local residents, administrators, faculty, professional staff, and community partners. Some 115 students were presented with their financial gifts at the College of Continuing Education’s annual scholarship and awards ceremony and banquet at the Educational Cultural Complex on April 22, 2025.
Lucky Duck Foundation Grant Providing Pathways for Homeless Students
The San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation was awarded a $689,000 grant from the Lucky Duck Foundation to support the Pathways Program for homeless students enrolled at the San Diego College of Continuing Education. The two-year grant runs from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Lucky Duck Foundation for this generous grant and their continued support,” said Dr. Tami Foy, the Continuing Education Foundation’s CEO and Executive Director who played a key role in securing the grant. “This funding will directly impact those who need it most and will allow us to provide ongoing support services, essential training, career services, and mentorship that will help break the cycle of homelessness for many people in our community.”
A 2023 survey the of basic needs security among California community college students conducted in spring of 2023 received responses from about 66,000 students at 888 community colleges statewide, including more than 5,600 students in the San Diego Community College District. Of the San Diego students who responded to the survey, nearly 1 in 6 said they had experienced housing insecurity, meaning they could not pay the rent or had to move frequently. Nearly 1 in 4 said they were homeless. At San Diego College of Continuing Education, that figure was even higher, with 27% of students reporting being homeless.
“The ability for students to meet their basic needs is essential to student success and retention,” states a 2023 San Diego Community College District Board report. “Student success is essential to the health of the San Diego economy, and to address the persistent income and wealth inequality in the state. Finding equity-based solutions to community college students’ basic needs challenges is critical to ensuring a thriving San Diego Region.”
Said Drew Moser, Chief Executive Officer of the Lucky Duck Foundation: “We are pleased to extend and expand this very effective program. It serves any level of homelessness and is a powerful resource for all social service providers, enabling individuals working to overcome homelessness to access paid internships, case management, certificate and job training programs, and more, so they can secure a livable wage job and put homelessness behind them.”
Supporting College Men of Color
Further illustrating its commitment to equity, the San Diego College of Continuing Education hosted a two-day Cultivating Strategies for Supporting College Men of Color conference, sponsored by the Community College Equity Assessment Lab, that drew more than 250 higher education leaders from across the nation to our Educational Cultural Complex.
The October 18-19, 2024, conference sponsored by the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL) and funded through a Lumina Foundation grant featured a welcome address from College of Continuing Education President Dr. Tina M. King, a keynote from CCEAL co-founder and Sacramento State University President Dr. Luke Wood, a panels addressing successful pathways for college men of color, and a closing keynote from Dr. José Del Real Viramontes, a former community college transfer student who now serves as an assistant professor in the Higher Education Administration and Policy Program at the University of California, Riverside, School of Education.
Initiatives supporting students of color received a significant boost when Gov. Gavin Newsom in September of 2024 signed Senate Bill 1348 into law, which changes the state Education Code to allow for the designation of Black-Serving Institutions (BSI) at California’s community colleges and state universities. Establishing a Black student success program, providing academic and basic needs support services to assist Black and African American students in reaching their educational goals, developing key performance indicators measuring the impact of Black student success programs, and adopting a mission statement committing to serving Black and African American students are among the requirements needed to secure a BSI designation. San Diego College of Continuing Education, President King said, will soon apply to become a BSI.
San Diego College of Continuing Education took another significant step in increasing access to economic mobility in April of 2025 when it opened a new Business Resource Center at its César E. Chávez Campus in Barrio Logan as a hub for workshops, networking opportunities, consulting services and more for entrepreneurs aiming to start or grow a business.
“As California’s largest noncredit institution, San Diego College of Continuing Education is dedicated to partnering with government, business and labor in all matters of workforce development, which is why we took the initiative to bring a Business Resource Center to our César E. Chávez Campus, said Continuing Education President Tina M. King, Ed.D., who noted the college’s career education program alone contributes nearly $250 million annually to the local economy. “I want to thank each and every individual who has helped turn this vision into a reality.”
The new Business Resource Center replaces a previous one at the Jo & Vi Jacobs Center building on Euclid Avenue in Southeast San Diego that was purchased by San Ysidro Health in 2024. The pending sale prompted Alex Waters, the director of the Jacobs Center’s Business Resource Center, and Dr. Tami Foy, CEO and Executive Director of the San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation, to explore the possibility of transitioning the center to the César E. Chávez Campus. Among the programs at the new center: workshops on a wide range of topics relevant to business owners, such as artificial intelligence, understanding business taxes and transitioning from employee to business owner; small business coaching; business needs assessments; and a fourmonth, business accelerator program designed to focus on the fundamentals of business.
A Valuable Resource for Entrepreneurs
A Commitment to Residents Recovering from Brain Injuries
The San Diego College of Continuing Education was once again a top fundraiser at the annual surviveHEADSTRONG Walk and Health Fair, an event hosted by the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation that in 2025 was held March 22 at Mission Bay’s DeAnza Cove.
March is Brain Injury Awareness month, so students, employees, and families from the College of Continuing Education’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) program proudly walked and rolled together under the name, “Team ABI”. Former ABI instructor Heike Kessler-Heiberg formed the college’s Team ABI to partake in the event 18 years ago, and Team ABI has become a top donor, raising more than $330,000 since 2008, with the addition of a $25,000 donation this year.
A portion of donations goes toward the College of Continuing Education’s ABI trust fund for scholarships. Continuing Education’s Acquired Brain Injury program— the only one of its kind in the nation—provides free classes that support survivors recovering from brain trauma, stroke/aneurysm, brain tumor, brain infection and anoxia. Acquired Brain Injury curriculum retrains students to achieve daily tasks and long-term goals to support their transition back into more independent living, volunteering, and career and educational pursuits. When ready, ABI students can transition into career training certificate programs at no-cost to them.
Supporting brain injury survivors and their families is at the heart of what we do. San Diego College of Continuing Education was built to provide accessible and equitable education for all people of all backgrounds.
Training Future Healthcare Providers
San Diego College of Continuing Education proudly celebrated its first-ever pinning ceremony for our fall semester cohort of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) graduates on January 29, 2025, at the César E. Chávez Campus. A second pinning ceremony for the college’s spring cohort of CNA graduates took place May 30.
The tuition-free Nurse Assistant training program at the College of Continuing Education prepares students for the state Certified Nurse Assistant examination and provides opportunities for clinical rotations at area healthcare facilities. Certified Nursing Assistants can earn an average salary reaching well into the $40,000-range, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and many are intent on securing the experience that can lead to a career as a registered nurse or a related, in-demand, healthcare position.
The College of Continuing Education offers seven no-cost healthcare career certificates; Nursing Assistant, Rehabilitative Nursing Assistant, Acute Care Nursing Assistant, Personal Care Assistant/ Caregiver, Home Health Aide, Behavioral Home Health Aide, and Health Unit Coordinator.
“We were truly honored to recognize our nursing assistant students in our college’s first formal pinning ceremony,” said College of Continuing Education President Tina M. King, Ed.D. “Many of our graduates returned to the classroom after being away for quite some time and or are fleeing their home country for a better future. That already is something to celebrate, and now we are adding on with this incredible accomplishment that will open doors to advance their careers or schooling toward registered nursing and other advanced healthcare professions.”
An Oasis for Tutoring and Learning
Homework help, a quiet place to study, and assistance to improve your reading, writing, math, or English conversation skills. That’s the idea behind the new apportionment-generating Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC) at the Educational Cultural Complex—and it’s just one more example of how your San Diego College of Continuing Education goes all out to provide wraparound services for its students.
The TLC offers tutoring and academic support tailored to meet diverse learning needs, along with quiet study spaces and group study options. Throughout the semester, workshops are available to help students build academic skills and confidence. The center also provides access to computers and internet, including digital literacy support to navigate Canvas, student email, and other online resources. In addition, students can take CASAS assessments during scheduled testing days. The TLC also coordinates High School Equivalency testing.
Serving a diverse student body—over half of whom are age 50 or older and many of whom are refugees, asylum seekers, or first-generation college students—the TLC exemplifies San Diego College of Continuing Education’s commitment to empowering every learner to achieve academic success and personal growth.
That’s the San Diego College of Continuing Education way.
The BIG MAKE 2025
Sharing our programs with the community we serve is a tradition at San Diego College of Continuing Education and explains the motivation behind the annual BIG MAKE capstone, a series of handson workshops and lectures open to the public to experience our award-winning and cost-free Clothing and Textiles program.
This year’s BIG MAKE took place April 26 at the West City Campus in San Diego’s Midway District. This year’s theme was “Threads of Change: Stitching Stories of Justice, Textiles, and Sustainability –Walking Gently, Making Boldly.” Attendees were treated to hands-on lessons in creating sustainable products and discussions with thriving designers and other industry professionals. Visiting Textile Artist Liberty Worth, served as the keynote for event.
The program is focused on creating solutions for fast fashion and environmental destruction through the use of sustainable and eco-friendly industry prices. The College of Continuing Education offers eight tuition-free career training certificates: Advanced Sewn Product Construction; Essential Digital Tools for Manufacturing; Industrial Sewing and Manufacturing; Pattern Fitting Technician; Patternmaking for Product Development; Product and Textile Surface Treatments – Embroidery; Product and Textile Surface Treatments – Digital Printing; and Sewn Product Construction Essentials.
San Diego Advance
San Diego College of Continuing Education recognizes that not everyone has an equal opportunity when it comes to higher education. That’s why we developed San Diego Advance, a comprehensive, equity-minded initiative aimed at ensuring all students – from single parents juggling work with raising a family to veterans transitioning to civilian life – receive the wraparound support to meet their basic needs, along with career and academic counseling, in creating strategic pathways to reach your goals.
San Diego Advance evolved from San Diego College of Continuing Education’s award-winning Noncredit to Credit Alignment Lab (NCAL) project that has sent our students to a degree or certificate program at our for-credit sister colleges – San Diego City, San Diego Mesa, and San Diego Miramar colleges – and beyond. San Diego Advance is doing that by fostering a stronger culture of collaboration between instructors and student services.
San Diego College of Continuing Education remains committed to the foundational principles of the NCAL framework: treating all students as students; building bridges between noncredit and credit credentials; aligning departments and governance; ensuring programs are credit worthy or credit-based; and removing all barriers to transitioning to a for-credit college and earning a two- or four-year degree. This past year we held symposiums with our credit-colleges to develop strategic pathways for our students from noncredit to credit and we look forward to continuing this work.
San Diego Advance underscores how we are meeting students where they are. Our Immigrant Studen Success Program at the César E. Chávez Campus in Barrio Logan regularly hosts bilingual community forums to support immigrant and refugee students. The Black Student Success Program is increasing completion rates of Black and African American students through counseling, mentorships, career development, and by fostering a strong sense of belonging. Our Disability Support Programs and Services offers interpreters for deaf students, specialized counseling, adaptive devices, and enrollment assistance for those with special needs. The LGBTQIA+ Program provides resources and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ students, who are a vital part of our community. For transition-age foster youth, the ElevateU Program offers job training, internships, and pathways to living-wage employment.
We invite you to explore the opportunities San Diego Advance offers at sdcce.edu/san-diego-advance and to join a diverse community dedicated to your growth and success.
San Diego Advance Student Profile: Ruth Derice
Ruth Derice is the epitome of San Diego Advance.
Just weeks after Derice ended a journey that began when she fled her native country of Haiti to San Diego, she enrolled in noncredit ESL classes at Continuing Education’s Mid-City Campus in City Heights and the César E. Chávez Campus in Barrio Logan. Not more than a few months later, she was in a noncredit certified nursing assistant (CNA) program at the Chávez Campus. And just days after passing her state exam to become a licensed CNA, she was working full time as a nursing assistant at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego.
Today, Derice is also employed at the César E. Chávez Campus and is going to school full time at San Diego City and San Diego Mesa colleges and has her sights set on transferring to her dream HBCU school of Howard University in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2026 and embarking on a successful career as a physician’s assistant, a highly skilled medical clinician who works closely with patients in diagnosing and treating various conditions in a similar capacity as a doctor.
“Everything I have accomplished is because of Continuing Education,” Derice said. “Without Continuing Education, I would not be speaking English like I am now, I would not have my CNA license, and I would not be working at Scripps Mercy Hospital. They helped me find my future.”
Empowering Refugees and Immigrants
When Neimo Ali settled in San Diego after immigrating from Ethiopia, she didn’t know more than a few words of English, had little in the way of job skills and was uncertain about her future. What she did have was determination. And that determination led her to the San Diego College of Continuing Education’s award-winning ESL program and its burgeoning collaboration with the nonprofit MAKE Projects, which operates an urban farm, cafe and catering service aimed at equipping immigrant and refugee women with job readiness training, an abundance of mentors and career guidance. With Continuing Education ESL classes building fluency in occupational English and MAKE Projects providing the resume-building work experience, Ali today is a confident U.S. citizen with a vision lacking any limitations.
“When I came to San Diego, I don’t know even how to say ‘hi’ to my neighbors, I didn’t know how to talk with people in English,” said Ali. “I stayed home. I don’t know anybody. Now, I speak better, I have experience working in a restaurant, I have friends who I can converse with in English. I have a future.”
MAKE is an acronym for Merging Agriculture Kitchens and Employment. Officially known as the Project for Self-Sufficiency through Education and Enterprise (Project SEE), the College of Continuing Education/MAKE Projects collaboration was developed in the fall of 2022 and formalized a year later. Cohorts of six students sign up for 12-week job-readiness sessions with MAKE Projects, and 55 women and 20 youths went through the program last year.
With seven campuses geographically disbursed across the city, the College of Continuing Education has been laser focused on lifting people out of poverty since its roots were planted more than 110 years ago. Continuing Education ESL instructors are embedded with MAKE to train and support its staff and volunteers in working even more effectively with beginning-level English learners. They also created content for a new, beginning-level, vocational ESL course focused on preparing students for working in the hospitality industry.
Participants are not being pigeonholed into food industry jobs. Students have gone on to enroll in career education programs ranging from health care to child development. “This has been a very good experience for me,” said Homira Wahisi, a one-time Afghani journalist who fled Kabul in 2022 and who spoke no English when she arrived in San Diego. “This was my first job in the U.S.” Wahisi recently secured a license to open a childcare center.
Said Anchi Mei, MAKE Projects’ founder and executive director: “We’re basically a catalyst, but we’re an important catalyst, because we’re catching women who are in this valley of low confidence and low opportunity. We’re helping them to not just succeed in their next job, but to succeed in finding a career pathway and preparing them to succeed along that pathway.”
ESL students begin their 12-week MAKE Projects journey with a two-week immersion in organic cultivation and farm-to-table cuisine at a MAKE Projects garden adjacent to Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley that supplies both produce for the restaurant as well as a Community Supported Agriculture box subscription program that generates revenue to cover operating expenses.
That’s followed by another two weeks of training at the MAKE Café in San Diego. Before they know it, their preparing or serving impressively plated meals include the likes of a Farmer’s Cheese Spread with za’atar, rose petal, pomegranate molasses and house made focaccia toast, Southeast Asian French Toast, and Afghan chicken with jack cheese, pickled onion and Somali Bizbaz.
Chedencia Martin, 24, who immigrated from Haiti by way of Brazil, wrapped up her 12-week Project SEE program in November of 2024. “This program helped me a lot,” she said. “It helped me improve my skills in English, to be more conversational. It helped me become more confident. And it helped me to continue with my objective to be a nurse.”
Her biggest takeaway?
“Believe in yourself,” she said. “Never say you can’t do something. Believe in yourself. Believe in what is possible.”
Assembly Bill 1433: Advocating for Noncredit Funding
Noncredit colleges play a unique role in workforce development by offering short-term, rapid upskilling and reskilling opportunities that directly address labor shortages and industry needs. That’s why, this past year, San Diego College of Continuing Education students and administrators testified in Sacramento in support of Assembly Bill 1433, which would establish clear definitions for noncredit colleges and education centers within the California Community Colleges system and allocate funding for key categorical programs that support student access, persistence, and completion, including targeted resources for veterans.
Noncredit education encompasses adult-serving, short-term programs that provide high-quality, cost-free training, education, and wraparound services to anyone seeking to improve their life. As California’s largest provider of adult education, our students represent a wide range of backgrounds, including military veterans, single parents, homeless individuals, and many others striving for socioeconomic stability. AB 1433, authored by Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharpe-Collins (79th Assembly District) would enable noncredit institutions like ours to receive essential funds for student services in areas such as veteran resource centers, disabled student programs and services, and mental health support.
Aligned with Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Career Education, this bill recognizes the vital role noncredit programs play in workforce training and student success. The significance of this legislation cannot be overstated. Our career education programs alone contribute $250 million annually to the San Diego economy and support 3,000 regional jobs each year. AB 1433 would formally recognize the important role of noncredit education in connecting millions of Californians with tuition-free, high-quality career education aligned to local industry demands.
While AB 1433 did not make it out of the Appropriations Committee, San Diego College of Continuing Education and our dedicated supporters remain committed to advocating for noncredit students locally and statewide.
Culminating with Commencement
How many lives are we impacting? The 2024-25 academic year culminated June 6 with a commencement ceremony at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park celebrating the more than 5,600 students earning 10,761 certificates and diplomas. Among the graduates was Class of 2025 student speaker Francisco Contreras, a 47-year-old San Diego resident.
After dropping out of high school at the age of 15, Contreras said his life spiraled into a cycle of drugs, gang violence, and incarceration. “I finally realized that if something didn’t change, I was either going to be in prison for the rest of my life or found dead somewhere,” he said. With support from the College of Continuing Education, Contreras committed himself to his studies, receiving tutoring, encouragement, and a scholarship along the way. He graduated with an adult high school diploma and is on track to advance in his career. “I’m applying for the assistant superintendent position at the construction company I work for,” he said while preparing for commencement. “This diploma was all I needed to move forward.”
Said College of Continuing Education President Tina M. King, Ed.D. “Commencement is more than a celebration. It is a powerful reminder of what equity in education truly means. Our adult graduates have overcome systematic barriers, balanced jobs, families, and responsibilities while pursuing their goals. Their success is proof that it’s never too late to dream.”
Lavender Celebration
Your San Diego College of Continuing Education held its inaugural Lavender Celebration at the César E. Chávez Campus on May 13, 2025, to recognize our resilient LGBTQIA+ students who have overcome significant challenges in reaching their educational goals. Organized by Dr. Lisa Carullii, the well-attended event included Chancellor Gregory Smith and Board of Trustee Craig Milgrim. Students were honored with a Pride Grant and special stoles for Commencement.
At your College of Continuing Education, we stand with our LGBTQIA+ students in joyful resistance through action, solidarity, and love.
A Father and Son Endeavor
It’s a family affair, and father and son Luis and Daniel Valdivia are making the most of their opportunity at San Diego College of Continuing Education’s Automotive Certificate Program.
“I was working full time at Home Depot, and my dad encouraged me to try college again,” Daniel said. “I figured, I liked cars so I might as well give it a try, and the program is free. This time, I am doing everything I love.”
Luis Valdivia wasn’t far behind. “I always had the yearning to work on automotive,” said Luis, a Marine veteran and lifelong learner, “and the chance presented itself at College of Continuing Education at no-cost.”
The Automotive Technician Certificate Program at College of Continuing Education teaches students within nine months how to diagnose and repair problems with engines, brakes, suspension, steering, electronics, fuel systems to meet industry safety practices and procedures.
“Coming onto campus, it’s like you’re walking into the best Mercedes, Audi, Ford, and Chevrolet dealerships,” Luis said of the automotive garage housed at the ECC. “You can work on transmission, oil, balancing tires, alignment, and all the equipment is state of the art.”
After earning his Automotive Technician certificate, Daniel says he’ll continue taking auto body and paint courses at the College of Continuing Education to provide him with the know-how to create custom-built cars from the interior aesthetics to the exterior design, a dream he had since he was young. Luis will use his certificate toward an associate degree in automotive technology degree from San Diego Miramar College. He’s also planning to complete his studies in nursing to a registered nurse. In the meantime, the Valdivias used the skills they’ve learned to open a homebased auto repair shop.
Said Luis: “Get into something that you’re going to love; love the work that you do. If you want to be a janitor, be the best janitor; if you want to be a mechanic, be the best mechanic. The College of Continuing Education has all the opportunities — and for free — with schedules open day and night. If you want to change careers or be better at something, you can do it.”
Shining the Light on Faculty and Classified Professionals
We are proud to recognize the outstanding work of our faculty and classified professionals who are dedicated to serving students—whether in the classroom, at the front lines of Student Services, or behind the scenes in maintaining operations and making sure the lights go on and the restrooms are clean. Their commitment is the driving force behind our progress.
This year, we completed a comprehensive collegewide reorganization to better align our structure with student needs. As part of this effort, we introduced several new roles, including Director of Technology Services, Accounting Supervisor, Stockroom Supervisor, Faculty Distance Education Coordinator, Theatre Director, while also adding a number of key positions in Student Services. We also expanded our Communications and Creative Services teams to strengthen the college’s presence and better support our mission.
None of this would be possible without the dedication, talent, and hard work of our employees—the true foundation of our success.
A Focus on Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging
At San Diego College of Continuing Education, we remain deeply committed to fostering a campus environment grounded in inclusivity, equity, and respect for all−regardless of background or immigration status. The Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging (SIB) Taskforce, established in Spring 2025 by President King, meets monthly to develop meaningful strategies, solutions, and resources that support our community in today’s social climate. The taskforce is comprised of all constituent groups who are passionate and committed to ensuring students remain successful.
Since its inception the taskforce has focused on action items to include:
Development of an FAQ to add to the website
Development of an Events Calendar
Creation and establishment of a proposal for legal services support
Development and coordination with mental health services for both virtual and in-person
Development of documents for students and employees to know their rights
Weekly updates in the President’s message about the Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging Taskforce
Creation of a framework to work with Union partners collectively with the SIB Taskforce / Academic Senate / Classified Senate
Development of a Live Canvas Shell page to facilitate communication updates and new information curated by our Immigrant Student Success Program
This year, we hosted a series of workshops for students and employees focused on understanding undocumented and immigrant experiences and knowing their rights. These sessions are especially meaningful at San Diego College of Continuing Education, where many of our students are immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, or first-generation Americans. Providing education around immigrant rights not only helps build a more informed and inclusive campus community, but also empowers our students and employees to navigate complex systems with confidence and compassion.
César E. Chávez Campus
1901 Main Street San Diego, 92113 (619) 388-1910
Educational Cultural Complex CE at Mesa College
4343 Ocean View Boulevard San Diego, 92113 (619) 388-4956
Mid-City Campus CE at Miramar College
3792 Fairmount Avenue
San Diego, 92105 (619) 388-4500
10440 Black Mountain Road San Diego, 92126 (619) 388-7825
West City Campus
3249 Fordham Street San Diego, 92110 (619) 388-1873
PRESIDENT
Tina M. King, Ed.D.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Geysil Arroyo
Mariah Jameson
Marichu MagaÑa, Psy.D.
Craig Milgrim
Maria Nieto Senour, Ph.D.
CHANCELLOR
Gregory Smith
7350 Armstrong Place San Diego, 92111 (619) 388-1950
North City Campus
7350 Armstrong Place San Diego, 92123 (619) 388-1800
