‘Ghost Students’ Abound at DVC with Fake Enrollments on the Rise
By ELIZABETH FLINN
Professor Adam Bessie has taught English courses for 18 years, but this fall at Diablo Valley College brought a problem he had never seen before: many of his supposed students were not real people.
For years, community colleges across California have been plagued by fraudulent enrollments — sometimes called “ghost students” or “Pell runners” — where scammers use fake or stolen identities to sign up for classes they will never attend as part of a scheme to steal financial aid (such as Pell Grants) or commit other cybercrimes.
This type of fraud rose during the pandemic, when academic life shifted to an online environment. Now, in the Fall 2024 semester, it has exploded into full view.
“I know it has existed elsewhere, but it’s new to me,” said Bessie, who was caught unaware about the crisis when he returned to the classroom after summer break. “I learned through an email from administration that it existed, and then immediately my first thought [was], ‘Can I trust the enrollments?’”
The email, sent to DVC faculty on Aug. 22, warned of “an uptick in fraudulent enrollments” and told instructors of online and hybrid courses
News – Page 2
– Page 3 Campus Culture – Page 4 DVC Alumni – Page 5
Sports – Page 6
Upcoming Events – Page 7
Small Businesses Fight to Stay Afloat
By JADEN MONTANO
to drop students who did not participate within the first few days of class.
DVC administrators stated in the email that they “have worked carefully behind the scenes” to clear out fake enrollments, but that the scammers’ methods have become increasingly sophisticated. Although students who do not participate in online courses can be dropped, some ghost students
have reportedly posted in Canvas, making them harder to spot. However, in many cases they do not respond to direct questions from their professors or show up to in-person sessions of hybrid courses, raising questions about who, or more precisely what, is behind the accounts and what purpose they serve.
See Enrollments, page 6
Wrestler Amit Elor of DVC Brings Home Gold from Summer Olympics
By NATE WENDLING
When 20-year-old Diablo Valley College student Amit Elor captured gold in women’s freestyle wrestling at the Summer Olympics in Paris in August, she became the youngest wrestler ever to win gold for the United States. And she did it in dominating fashion. After defeating the 2023 world champion, Turkish wrestler Buse Tosun
Çavuşoğlu, in the 68 kilogram weight class, Elor proceeded to win her next three matches without conceding a single point to her opponents—including a 3-0 win over Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the gold medal match.
But winning at the highest stages is nothing new for Elor, who has taken nine gold medals at world championships in different age divisions, stunning coaches and observers along the way.
“She is the best wrestler that I have ever seen,” said Mike Wilhelm, who coached Elor during her freshman year at College Park High School.
A Walnut Creek native, Elor is currently taking online classes at DVC with plans to transfer to a four-year university, where she said she hopes to pursue her interest in psychology and applied math and statistics.
Prior to DVC, Elor, who has been wrestling since she was four years old, only wrestled for one year at College Park before going on to train internationally against high-level adult wrestlers, according to Jim Keck, who was the high school’s athletic director at the time.
As a freshman in 2019, Elor won
the state championship in women’s wrestling and was awarded the Champion of Champions Award for California high schools.
During that same year, she won her final four state matches so decisively that the time spent in those matches didn’t add up to the average duration of a single match, according to Arman Ostadsharif, another one of her high school coaches.
“We all kind of said it: this girl is going to be an Olympic wrestler,” said Ostadsharif in an interview with The Inquirer. “She is the complete package.”
“Her work ethic is unparalleled. She knows who she is and what she has, but doesn’t let that get to her head.”
Keck agreed, noting Elor’s outstanding talent and her instincts as a competitor so early in her career.
“She does not make mistakes, and [she] keeps things simple,” said Keck. Beyond that, “she surrounds herself with people who will make her better.”
A case in point, in her freshman year of high school, Elor’s wrestling partner was a junior male wrestler who played varsity football and outweighed her by See Wrestler, page 6
In the small East Bay city of Clayton, a few miles east of Concord, a silent crisis is unfolding as businesses struggle with inflation, financial instability and the lingering economic effects of the pandemic.
The secluded town of just over 10,000 residents once had busy streets lined with thriving shops, boutiques and restaurants. But now it bears the scars of economic decline, as “For Lease” signs hang in windows and distress settles over the business owners.
“Things are really tough right now,” said Michelle Perado, owner of Milk Tea Lab, a once-popular spot for local teenagers. “It is extremely stressful because rent here in this area keeps rising.”
As a result, she said, “We are only able to maintain three other employees on our staff. It’s heartbreaking.”
National economic indicators point to a recovery from the pandemic’s worst impacts. But the narrative is different for small business owners like Perado, who face a unique set of challenges including the region’s high cost of living, skyrocketing commercial rent prices and a workforce that is increasingly moving away.
According to Tara Lynn Gray, director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), which supports the state’s small businesses and nonprofits, the Biden-Harris administration’s American Rescue Plan fueled small business growth in California in 2023.
“This remarkable rise in new businesses has the potential to reverse decades of stagnant business application numbers, opening up opportunities for job creation and prosperity,” she wrote in a report.
By contrast, many small businesses in Clayton are still having a difficult time.
“I have found myself struggling to stay afloat,” said Doug Liu, owner of R&L Jewelers, another local business in town.
“Even the people who pass through here do not feel the need to stop by,” Liu said, and “without the consistent foot traffic here, sales have plummeted.”
Liu says he and others in this small East Bay community may have no choice but to adapt to an ever-changing economic environment. “I would love Clayton to become more of a hotspot for Bay Area residents,” he said.
“We’re not giving up,” he added, his voice filled with determination. “This is our community. We’re going to keep fighting for it.”
Illustration by Edda Morazan Campos
Photo by John
Photo by Jaden Montano
Sweltering Heat, Broken AC Disrupts Class
By CARLA RIVERA
As students and professors returned to Diablo Valley College in August, so did the heat.
Temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees during the first two weeks of the fall semester, leaving many students and faculty desperate to escape indoors. But due to aging infrastructure and a number of dysfunctional air conditioning units across campus, many classrooms remained hot as the school’s maintenance team struggled to keep up.
“It’s like a sauna in here,” said psychology professor Felicia Perez, who teaches in Room 119 of the Liberal Arts (LA) building, where the humid air clings to you upon entering and interferes with academics.
“It’s challenging to teach a class,” Perez said. “In the beginning when I walk in, it’s not as hot. But as the class keeps on going I start to get hotter, sweating a lot.”
Perez wasn’t the only one feeling the heat in the classroom. Maddie Bullotta, a third year psychology major, described her time in Room 119 as uncomfortable and detrimental to her education.
“It’s hard to soak up all the information I’m learning with this heat,” she said.
Other classrooms in the LA building also struggled with faulty AC. Ximena Castillo and Jimena Mejia, both sophomores at DVC, described their experience in the spring taking class a few doors down.
“We had [Room] 113, it was in the corner, but there was no air ever—no air at all,” said Mejia. Castillo said she too experienced diffi-
culty paying attention last semester due to the lack of cooling and ventilation.
“You’re more focused on overheating and sweating than what is being taught,” Castillo said.
Castillo and Mejia said their English professor, Anthony Gonzales, requested to change the class out of Room 113, but was denied the switch.
“Our teacher told us that the AC had been broken for a while, but that there was nothing that we could do about it,” said Castillo.
James Buchanan, the director of maintenance and operations at DVC, said he sent technicians to determine the issue with Room 119, where temperatures were reading higher.
“One room above is at 72 [degrees], and Room 119 is at 78,” Buchanan told The Inquirer. But, “they should [both] read 72 degrees because they’re supplied by the same air handler unit.”
Buchanan confirmed that the issue of overheated classrooms extends beyond the LA building.
“It’s an aging infrastructure, and this is occurring on a daily basis throughout the campus, on multiple buildings that we’re always having to go troubleshoot [and] reset the units,” he said.
A 2016 evaluation by the energy engineering and consulting firm Newcomb, Anderson and McCormic concluded that the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system installed in 2005 in the LA building had another nine years to go before it needed replacement, according to Buchanan.
“So here we are, that would be the year 2025,” he said. “It’s not surprising that we’re having problems with those units.”
Already, the college’s maintenance division is in the process of implementing a five-year plan to address the modernization of campus HVAC units and other facilities, Buchanan added.
“It’s a myriad of different projects that we have on the list,” he said, “and a lot of these are HVAC replacements.”
In the meantime, looking ahead to a potentially warm autumn, students and teachers who find themselves in some of DVC’s outdated infrastructure may just have to endure the heat.
“It’s uncomfortable to teach,” said Perez. “I hope it gets fixed soon because we still have heat waves coming along in October.”
DVC Volleyball: How One Player’s Love for the Sport Brought Her Back to the Court
By JASMINE NAEMI
Diablo Valley College Volleyball is among the most competitive sports on campus, and one player this fall stands out because of her unusual start to the season.
Sophomore Isabelle Dungca played volleyball for nine years prior to coming to DVC, and said she always loved the sport. Throughout middle and high school, it was her constant companion — a place where she found joy in competition and friendship.
But when she went to college, things changed. Dungca had felt burnt out and overworked on the court, and needed to step away. Facing a new environment, with a rigorous academic schedule and a desire to focus more on personal growth, she decided to sit out her freshman year.
The decision wasn’t an easy one, she said. “I took a year off from
The Inquirer
Diablo Valley College, ST-103
volleyball after my senior year of high school, and during that year, I missed so many aspects of the game,” said Dungca, who is now 19.
Then, after speaking with DVC coach Jackie Ponciano-Babb in the spring of 2023, Dungca had a change of heart and decided that she would hit resume on her volleyball career.
Now, after playing outside hitter her whole life, she is DVC’s speedy libero, a switch she made because of the patellar tendinitis she developed playing high school volleyball.
“If I wanted to continue in the sport, I knew I had to play a position that involved less jumping,” Dungca said. “As a libero, I am a more defensive player and much more focused on passing.”
The transition, from an offensive player to a strictly defensive role, has injected new passion into Dungca’s play, and
321 Gold Club Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
The Inquirer is run by a dedicated team of student reporters, writers and editors. If you want experience telling stories that matter to the campus and community, you can join the paper by enrolling in a DVC News Production course: JRNAL 125 or 126. For more information, contact the advisor at mlevitin@dvc.edu.
Follow us on Instagram: @dvcinquirer
Letter to the Editor: Are Millennials Lazy and Entitled?
Dear Editors, I am writing to address the ongoing debate about whether Millennials are lazy and entitled. I agree that, in many instances, this stereotype holds.
Millennials have grown up in a world of instant gratification, where technology has made everything readily accessible. This environment has cultivated a sense of entitlement, with many expecting successes without commensurate effort. Additionally, the participation trophy culture has contributed to this mindset, leading to unrealistic expectations in the workplace.
Moreover, the tendency to prioritize personal fulfillment over hard work has led to the perception of laziness. While it is important to have a healthy work-life balance, the pendulum has swung too far for some, with personal interests taking precedence over professional responsibilities.
However, it is crucial to note that not all Millennials fit this stereotype. Many are hardworking, innovative, and committed to their careers. It is unfair to paint an entire generation with such a broad brush.
To foster a more productive dialogue, we should encourage open conversations about work ethics and expectations. By doing so, we can help Millennials shed this negative stereotype and reach their full potential.
Sincerely, Tiaira “Taye” Breaux
was exactly what she felt she needed to get her athletic career back on track.
As well as all the grit and hard work she put in on her own athletic career, Dungca credited her mother with helping push her back into the head space she needs to succeed.
“My biggest inspiration is my mom,” Dungca said. “She has always supported me and my siblings and she works so hard for the people she loves. Because of this, I want to do the best that I can to make her proud and make all her hard work worth it.”
Through thick and thin, Dungca has been loyal to her sport and her sacrifice has shown on the court. As she continues to make her mark in the sport, Dungca’s story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to follow your passion. And that sometimes the road back is the most rewarding path you can take.
Staff Writers
Colin Dalvand, Olivia Delucchi, Elizabeth Flinn, Jaden Montano, Jasmine Naemi, Tori Pearson, Ella Potts, Carla Rivera, Diego Ruiz-Sagrero, Gage Walker, Nate Wendling
Editor-in-Chief Alyssa DuFresne
Layout Designer Alyssa DuFresne
Graphic Artist Edda Morazan Campos
Social Media Team Olivia Delucchi, Ella Potts, Carla Rivera, Jasmine Naemi
Advisor Michael Levitin
To send a Letter to the Editor or to get in touch with other queries, contact: INQUIRER@DVC.EDU | WWW.DVCINQUIRER.COM
Photo by Carla Rivera
Thermostat of LA-118 hangs limply as students and faculty struggle to beat the heat.
Courtesy of DVC Athletics
After suffering from burnout and a knee injury in high school that put a pause on her volleyball career, Isabelle Dungca returned to the court at Diablo Valley College.
Wages, Housing and Crime Top the Ballot in California
By GAGE WALKER
With the November election around the corner, most voters are focused on the presidential race. But for Californians, three critical propositions also deserve attention.
For many students at Diablo Valley College, Proposition 32 is likely the most relevant.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), Prop. 32 would increase the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for all workers statewide, making it the highest in the nation.
“[This is] a pretty modest ask but could have transformative impacts on the lowest wage workers here in the Bay Area,” said Chris Longenecker, assistant professor of political science at DVC.
Opponents of the proposition state that it could cost jobs and put stress on small businesses. But according to polling from UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, some 52 percent of likely voters support the measure. Among people between 18 and 29 years old, about 60 percent are likely to vote yes.
In addition to the economic impacts of Prop. 32, Proposition 33 could dramatically affect housing affordability for students and families.
Prop. 33 would eliminate the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which puts limits on rent controls. If passed, this would allow local governments to experiment with and expand rent control laws to try and address some of the housing affordability crisis.
Prop. 33 is supported by the California Democratic Party and the California Nurses Association.
ANALYSIS:
“The importance of rent control is keeping people in their communities,” said Longenecker, who lives in a neighborhood in North Oakland that he said has been experiencing gentrification for decades.
“Many of my neighbors are low-in-
the state. The measure is opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce, California Association of Realtors, and California Small Business Association.
Longenecker added, “Rent control is critical to taking care of these families and making sure that they
come folks, elderly folks, and people who have lived in that neighborhood for a couple of generations,” Longenecker added. “Without rent control, that would be impossible, and our neighborhood would become one that is just constantly having new renters come in and replace existing ones.”
Those who oppose the measure say it could disincentivize housing development and lower property values in
can budget and live in dignity.”
Perhaps the most controversial measure on the ballot in November is Proposition 36, which would increase punishments for some theft and drug crimes. It would also allow people who possess illegal drugs to be charged with a “treatment-mandated felony” instead of a misdemeanor, according to the LAO. If the measure passes, treatment-mandated felonies would be a new catego-
ry of crime, wherein people who don’t contest the charges could complete drug treatment instead of going to prison — but if they don’t finish treatment they could still face up to three years in prison, according to CalMatters.
Supporters the measure argue in their literature that it “is not about returning to the era of mass incarceration, rather it is about launching the era of mass treatment, to keep people alive, out of jail, and off our streets.”
Professor Matt Morrissey, chair of the administration of justice department at DVC, expressed apprehension about Prop. 36. “Drug use right now is out of control,” he told The Inquirer
“We tried to criminalize drug use, and it didn’t work. It filled up prisons and we have the biggest drug crisis in our history right now.”
Morrissey added, “Just increasing penalties for certain crimes is not going to work. It’s going to put more people in prison.”
If passed, the LAO reports Prop. 36 would likely increase criminal justice costs throughout the state. This measure is supported by the California Sheriffs Association, California District Attorneys Association, and California Retailers Association.
Opponents of the proposition argue it would increase spending for prisons and put more people in jail. In addition, they argue it would cut spending for mental health and substance abuse treatments. This measure is opposed by Governor Gavin Newsom as well as the Vera Institute of Justice.
Young Voters Could Decide the 2024 Election. If They Vote
By DIEGO RUIZ-SAGRERO
“This is the most important election in modern history” is a phrase voters hear every election season, each one seemingly more important than the last. And each time, the same observation is also made: young people do not care about politics.
But that doesn’t appear to be the case this year. Huge numbers of young people are registering to vote in the Nov. 5 presidential election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
For generations, the 18-24 age range has been criticized for its lack of participation in elections, where they hold significant voter power through their population but often do not sway the election either way. However, in 2020, young voters turned out in record numbers and were crucial in pushing Joe Biden over the top and securing his victory. Could the 2024 general election be the next election in which young voters make the difference?
Sophia Galindo, a 19-year-old psychology major at Diablo Valley College, said she is ready to change the narrative about young voters this fall.
“I’m actually very excited to vote,” said Galindo. “Voting is more than just a privilege. It’s the right
to stand for what you believe in.”
In a Sep. 17 Axios poll, young voters favored Harris with 55 percent saying they would vote for her while Trump trailed with 24 percent of the youth vote. In the poll, 11 percent opted for a third-party candidate and 10 percent remained undecided.
The generation gap between young voters and the aging Congress could also bring out the youth vote.
According to FiscalNote, the average age of a House representative is 58, and the average age of a senator is 65. Although Millennials and Gen Z now make up nearly half of the eligible voter population, it’s clear they aren’t yet fairly represented in Congress.
In previous decades, the 18-24 age always had the lowest election turnout rates. But in a study by Tufts University, the 2022 midterm election saw 18to 24-year-olds show up in larger numbers than Millenials, Gen X and Baby Boomers showed up when they had their first chance at voting in a midterm.
As a result, the surge in young voters completely swayed the 2022 election. Polls and political pundits across the country had predicted a “red wave” to sweep nationwide, in the typical transition of power from the party of the
sitting president to that of the opponent.
But it didn’t happen. Democrats lost their government trifecta that year when the Republicans gained a slim majority in the House. Still, they expanded their control of the Senate by one seat and flipped two gubernatorial races.
Upending the traditional narrative, young people had a visible outcome in the election. Now the question is
whether they can enlarge that impact.
This fall, in California in particular, many young voters are realizing it’s not just the president who is on the ballot. Important measures, propositions, and House and Senate races, both at the state and fed eral levels, will be voted on as well. See Voters, page 6
Illustration by Edda Morazan Campos
Photo by Element5
Planting the Seed to Further Student Art Careers
DVC Art Gallery showcases work by local teachers and DVC professors
By ELLA POTTS
In the center of the room stands a transparent rectangular case with three shelves holding what looks like rotting oranges. Judging by their tiny dimples and orange, waxy appearance, you wouldn’t think twice about their authenticity. Even the turquoise and white mold looks so realistic you could almost conjure up the smell of rotting fruit.
But it’s not until you kneel and inspect the underside of these oranges that you realize they’re hollow — in fact, the placard on the case confirms that the piece, “A Lil’ Bit Rotten,” by David Hevel, is made of glass.
Kylie Rivera, a student at Diablo Valley College, experienced shock as she inspected the sculpture. “I love how realistic the oranges sculpture is, it’s crazy to me that they aren’t real,” said Rivera.
This creative work of art was among many compositions on display through Sept. 26 at DVC’s Art Gallery, which was spread across two exhibit rooms.
As you walked through the first gallery, entitled “Planting the Seed,” you found yourself surrounded by walls of diverse artwork, ranging from digital drawings to watercolor paintings. The compositions were created by art teachers from nearby Clayton Valley Charter, Concord, Northgate and College Park high schools, whose work aimed to inspire students to pursue art careers at DVC. For some students here, it was a fresh chance to see their own former teachers’ work on display and open for critique.
Jayce Jenner, a studio arts major at DVC, told The Inquirer, “It’s interesting to see my high school art teacher’s work when for so long they were so critical of my work.”
He added, “Looking at this watercolor painting, I can see all these errors that she would have pointed out to me.”
Some digital drawings framed on the walls had very intricate details done in black and white, creating a strong contrast. Joi Williams, a DVC student majoring in architecture design, said they loved the composition in the digital drawing “Good Intentions,” by Daniel Willis, a teacher at Clayton Valley Charter High School.
But, Williams admitted, “the oranges are definitely my favorite.”
In the second gallery, entitled “Technique and Process,” the viewer was immersed in the approach and procedure of different artworks created by DVC professors. The goal of this gallery was to give students a look at what they will be learning over the course of the semester in art.
Similar to the oranges sculpture, a sculpture in the center of the sec-
ond gallery, crafted by Hopi Breton, displayed a cupcake made from metal, accompanied by a step by step recipe for students to study.
Aside from sculptures, there were also pieces made with watercolor, oil paint, pastels and charcoal. Pasted on the walls were a number of colorful pieces by artist Jane Fisher, reflecting the theme of “still life studies.”
The pieces featured objects set in bold colors that seemed to reach out and draw you in—satisfying on the eyes and peaceful to view. The show, which opened Aug. 28, closed Sept. 26.
New ASDVC President: 'By The Students, For The Students'
Guadalupe Lopez Villegas shares her experience as newly elected leader of the student government
By OLIVIA DELUCCHI
Guadalupe Lopez Villegas, the new president of Associated Students of Diablo Valley College, has a mission: to help students be seen, heard and informed.
“I want the students to know everything that ASDVC is doing for them, because sometimes students just go to class, then go back home, and don't really hear about everything that’s happening on campus,” Lopez said in a recent interview with The Inquirer
As the school’s student governing body, elected by the students, ASDVC conducts public forums and mediates between students, administration and academic departments to address student concerns and inform them of academic changes impacting them.
“We connect the students [to the administration] and we talk to them about the issues that are affecting them… locally, state, and on a federal level,” said Lopez, a thirdyear business administration major.
In terms of campus policies, Lopez said, “if the students come up to us and say, ‘We want this,’ we try our best to make it happen.”
She said she resonates with the ASDVC motto: “By the students, for the students.” Lopez cited a recent example from last semester when a student approached ASD-
VC to request that the school provide greater accessibility to menstrual products in campus bathrooms.
As a result, “now there are 20 new [menstrual product stations], both here and in San Ramon,” Lopez said.
Other projects initiated by the governing body include the establishment of the food pantry, all-gender bathrooms, and Narcan training sessions.
In addition to helping students attending DVC, Lopez said there are “a million ways” students can benefit from joining ASDVC.
Among them, the organization offers leadership conferences and scholarships for its members to support their growth and professional development.
“We definitely want to invest in the students that are getting involved within our campus,” Lopez said.
“It's like a network, you're here with students who have the same passions, values and motivation as you.”
She added that ASDVC has a role for everybody, and that all members are productive and helpful in their own way.
“Any major, any background, any age: there's a position for anyone,” Lopez said.
Lopez noted that her personal experience with student government has led to many leadership opportunities.
“When you’re the president, so
many doors open for you because there's so many levels of communication that you hold within campus.”
As ASDVC president, Lopez bridges the gap between the administration and the students, holding monthly meetings with DVC President Susan Lamb to stay updated on the progress of administrative projects and internal affairs within the college.
But her work ethic and position didn't happen overnight. Lopez worked hard to get to where she is now, and faced challenges along the way.
Lopez’s story
Lopez said she initially experienced some anxiety when she entered student government, due to missing the first couple of meetings. But she stuck with it, and said ASDVC helped her come out of her bubble and become more extroverted as she made connections with students, staff and organizations.
“I wasn't aware that I was capable of that [change],” she said, and it made her ask herself: “I wonder what else I'm capable of.”
Lopez described especially the positive impact of participating in ASDVC’s trip in 2023 to Washington, DC, where she met the late California senator, Dianne Feinstein, and
advocated for DACA and Dreamers. “I [got] the opportunity to speak with Senator Feinstein,” Lopez recalled. “I cannot even explain how pivotal that point was for my life—it was life-changing.” Reflecting on the history that led her to that moment, she added, “I spoke to [Feinstein] personally about DACA and Dreamers, and it was so surreal, it's just so emotional to think that by walking into that [first ASDVC meeting] somehow led to me talking to a senator.”
See ASDVC, page 7
Photos by Ella Potts
Courtesy of Guadalupe Lopez Villegas
Kylie Rivera examines a glass sculpture entitled “A Lil’ Bit Rotten” by David Hevel.
From Child of Iran to 4CD Chancellor: A DVC Story
Ahead of the college’s 75th anniversary celebration, Mojdeh Mehdizadeh shares her immigration and career story as a former Diablo Valley College transfer student
By TORI PEARSON
Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, the 10th chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District (4CD), emigrated from Iran to the United States when she was eight years old, and still recalls the scrutiny she faced about her origins and race after the family settled in Ogden, Utah.
“It was a challenge being a young person from Iran living here in the United States, [where] often people would identify me and my family as terrorists,” Mehdizadeh said in a recent interview, reflecting on the long path that led to her becoming the administrative head of three East Bay colleges, including Diablo Valley College.
Early life experiences
Her family left Iran in the summer of 1978 during the Iranian Revolution, and she was forced to adapt to a completely different country and its culture.
“It [Iran] was what I knew,” Mehdizadeh said, “and as a child I loved it. I had great friends and amazing family.
“[But] the politics of the country changed,” she added, and after the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of an Islamic Republic, “it was not necessarily the safest environment.”
Mehdizadeh and her family stayed in Utah for the remainder of that year, but by January 1979, she said her family had reached their limit with the anti-Iranian prejudice they faced in the area.
“1979 was when the hostage crisis took place in Iran, where they captured American hostages,” she explained. Mehdizadeh recalled how in the third grade, children would throw items at her in the middle of class.
“Kids can be cruel, it’s just a sad fact of reality,” she said. “I couldn’t even understand what was happening, and that might be a good thing.”
Mehdizadeh’s story is unique among the many inspiring journeys of DVC alumni since their graduation, and some of them will return
to the campus this fall as the school celebrates its 75th anniversary with two days of commemorative events.
According to the DVC Alumni Association manager, Charley Daly, the Oct. 25-26 alumni celebration—which will include a best-selling author presentation, a barbeque and a football game—will connect past DVC students with present ones, as expressed in the association’s tagline: “Where every story inspires the next.”
“DVC is a place of transformation,” Daly told The Inquirer. “And that’s the story we want to continue to resonate with people with the Alumni Association.”
In Mehdizadeh’s case, her transformation began after a visit to see some of her family’s former neighbors, who had moved from Ogden to Oakland.
Upon returning, her family decided to relocate to California as well. They settled in Pleasant Hill, where Mehdizadeh attended Pleasant Hill Elementary, Christ the King Middle School and Acalanes High School.
“Stay open to possibilities… and don’t be afraid to dream big!” – Mojdeh Mehdizadeh
Mehdizadeh entered Diablo Valley College in 1987. She said she dreamed of attending the college since she was 11 years old, when she watched the long application process her brother went through as an international student.
After seeing her family’s excitement and relief when her brother announced his acceptance at the college, she knew she wanted to follow in his footsteps.
“He was jumping for joy,” she said. And while watching the celebrations she remembered thinking to herself, “Oh my god, I’m going to DVC!”
DVC and beyond
Mehdizadeh arrived on campus as an accounting major, but switched to computer science by the end of her first semester. This move was in large part due to her experience working in the Career Development Center.
Mehdizadeh recalled that the office she worked in had just received computers, and part of her job was to create databases to digitally sort information that she then provided to students and faculty.
Becoming a student employee shaped her early college education, and she explained how being surrounded by coworkers from diverse backgrounds encouraged her to develop and grow.
“It was probably the first time that I felt a genuine sense of belonging in the United States,” Mehdizadeh said. “Having a job on campus is probably the thing that created the biggest sense of belonging for me.”
Like many students, Mehdizadeh had to take required classes she didn’t look forward to as an undergraduate. But one of them—a summer-session public speaking course— would be the class that would result in, as she described, “building my love for communication studies.”
Her professor in that class, Mr. Al Amador, helped students acquire knowledge and presentation skills as well as learn more about one another.
“That class of 30, we became the best of friends,” she recalled, “and it’s interesting because I think back now and we all loved the opportunity to actually speak in front of one another.”
After two years at DVC, Mehdizadeh transferred to San Francisco State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1992, with an emphasis in information and automation systems.
Mehdizadeh completed her masters degree in speech communications at Cal State University East Bay in 1995,
with an emphasis in organizational and intercultural communications.
All the while, she kept to her roots at DVC by working a variety of positions at the community college. She worked as a College for Kids and college success instructor, a cooperative education and assessment center technician, and an associate director for a statewide training center for cooperative education.
Then, in 1998, Mehdizadeh began to deepen her roots within the district by serving as a technology applications manager for the 4CD.
In March 2001, she became the associate vice chancellor and chief information officer for the district. A decade later, she was named executive vice chancellor of education and technology, a role she held between 2011 and 2015 when she became the president of Contra Costa College.
“My entire career being here, and then ultimately serving as a chancellor for the entire district, is beyond a dream,” she said.
Mehdizadeh, who began serving as the 4CD chancellor in January of 2024, said her most valuable piece of advice to current and future students is simple: “Stay open to possibilities.”
“Retain a positive outlook,” said Mehdizadeh, “which isn’t always easy given [the] challenges that life throws at us. And don’t be afraid to dream big!”
DVC’s 75th anniversary
Another successful DVC alum, Daniel James Brown, will be coming to campus for the fall alumni association events, and to share the lessons he learned from his time as a student on campus that he carried with him throughout his career.
Brown is the author of numerous books, including the 2013 bestseller The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which was adapted into a movie directed by George Clooney last year.
Brown will speak to the DVC community about his life and work in an event entitled “Resilience and Triumph,” which takes place on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in the DVC library on the Pleasant Hill Campus.
The following day, on Saturday, Oct. 26, the alumni association will host the first annual DVC Alumni BBQ and Football Tailgate Party starting at 11 a.m. in the Viking Stadium.
The event will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the expanded athletics facility. Afterwards students and alumni can enjoy a free lunch catered by the restaurant Back Forty Texas BBQ, followed by an afternoon football game between the DVC Vikings and San Joaquin Delta Mustangs.
“It’s an opportunity to connect not only with our past, which is the people who have been here long before us,” Daly said about the fall gathering, “[but] for students to be able to see that this place has been around awhile. There’s a lot of history here.”
Photo by Tori Pearson
New Coach Takes the Helm of DVC Football
By COLIN DALVAND
After a disappointing 2-8 season last fall, Diablo Valley College football is turning to fresh leadership to steer the program into a new era.
In addition to hiring new offensive and defensive coordinators over the off-season, the Vikings now have a new head coach, Jimmy Collins, who led winning teams during his 15 years of coaching at City College of San Francisco—including two national championships, numerous conference championships, and nine playoff wins.
Collins, who earned two All-American Coach of the Year awards in the process, also sent 213 of his players to compete at the university level.
“We had a high transfer rate to fouryear programs,” Collins told The Inquirer in a recent interview. “Eighty-seven percent of our players transferred to four-year schools, with over 50 percent of them to Division 1 programs.”
He added, “[I’m] hoping to continue that, and have it grow even larger here.”
In a statement following his hire,
Enrollments, from front
Joseph Gorga, vice president of equity and instruction at DVC, told The Inquirer that as of Sept. 13, the college had dropped more than 1,400 fake enrollments this semester—many of which were initially enrolled as ghost students at Los Medanos College or Contra Costa College before signing up for multiple classes at DVC.
Gorga said many fake enrollments are ideally caught by the state, because community college applicants must first pass through the statewide application site CCCApply, and its verification processes, before enrolling in specific colleges and courses.
“The state has some filters that they [use] to try to filter out applications first,” said Gorga, “then DVC looks for certain things” in its own capacity to ferret out ghost students.
Wrestler, from front 15 pounds. Yet throughout the year, he was only able to score a single takedown on her.
Wilhelm, who usually yells encouragement and advice to his wrestlers on the mat, said he would just sit back and watch as Elor won her matches with ease.
“I remember saying at one point during the season that she was going to win a gold medal,” said Wilhelm. Despite her standout skills and success, her coaches said Elor was constantly working to improve herself, and was also known as a consistent team player, considerate of the needs of others.
Amid multiple practices a day, they recalled, Elor still made time to help out other wrestlers on the team—and even taught her coaches a few new things, according to Wilhelm. “[She] is as humble as they come,” said Ostadsharif. Wilhelm and Ostadsharif also coached
DVC’s dean and director of athletics, Christine Worsley, said, “Jimmy’s proven coaching skills, including his ability to build relationships, recruit talent, compete, and win, truly set him apart.”
Worsley added, “His unwavering commitment to the success of his players, both on the field and in their academic pursuits, exemplifies his dedication to excellence.”
For Collins, having a successful sea-
Gorga said he could not give specifics about what the school’s filters look for without “keying off” the fraudsters in the process.
According to CalMatters, potential red flags of fake enrollments include unusual email domains, Social Security numbers stolen from retirees, suspicious home addresses (such as vacant lots) and an unexplained spike in enrollments within a short amount of time.
Bessie also reported seeing strange “double names,” such as “Jonathon Jonathon,” fueling suspicions of AI-generated profiles.
The California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office said in an interview that they have many approaches to combating fraud at the statewide level, including stricter identity verification procedures, updated fraud-detection technology, enhanced training and support for colleges, and month-
Elor’s older siblings, who they said not only helped Elor become an amazing wrestler, but a great person as well.
Her family was deeply involved in wrestling, Keck said, and supported her in every step along the way. He recalled that Elor’s brother was an especially big factor, helping her make a plan to get down to an Olympic weight class lower than where Elor normally wrestled at.
Elor is “bigger, stronger, faster” than her opponents, according to Ostadsharif, and is very disciplined about sticking to her gameplan.
Her fundamental approach at the highest level, combined with her elite “gas tank,” allows her to wear down her opponents throughout her matches, he said.
“The most fun thing about watching Amit wrestle was how dominant she is,” said Ostadsharif. “She seems to be better than everyone she wrestles.”
son—and more broadly, building a successful football program—means helping student athletes find their best selves, both in the classroom and on the field.
That is why when it comes to transfer rates and winning, he said, his priority is “always transfers.”
“[The players’] futures are what we’re most concerned about,” said Collins, who routinely stresses to his players the importance
ly fraud reports from each college.
“Successful financial aid fraud is rare relative to the total volume of student aid distributed,” said Melissa Villarin, an information officer with CCC.
However, “currently we are seeing about 25 percent of application activity being flagged as suspected fraud,” she said, and “this is up from about 20 percent two years ago.”
“Our systems are becoming more effective at detecting fraud, even as the attempts become more sophisticated.”
Most fraud attempts are stopped at an early stage before the scammers can apply for financial aid, added Villarin.
Of the $3.3 billion in financial aid that was distributed by California community colleges in 2022-2023, less than 0.1 percent was deemed fraudulent.
The CCC Chancellor’s Office did not confirm that fraudsters have specifically been using AI, or what Vil-
Voters, from page 3
“The more someone is aware, the more they realize the effect of what’s happening on the down-ballot,” Suzy Pak, a trustee of the Lafayette School District Governing Board, told The Inquirer
“It’s generally the stuff that’s closer to the bottom of the ballot that affects you the most because that’s what’s happening right around you–where you live, where you work, where you go to school.”
But not all young people are as excited—or even seem to care—about voting in November. In an interview with The Inquirer, 19-year-old DVC sophomore Hudson Pergamit expressed a feeling many young people share, which often dissuades them from voting: disillusionment.
“I don’t think politicians really care and/or cater to young people,” said Pergamit, a communications major. “The main reason is due to the
of academics as much as athletics.
“Academically, our goal is to have a team GPA over 3.0. Everyone has audacious goals, but you need to have a certain behavior to accomplish your goals,” he said. “That’s the challenge.”
Collins said he coaches with a philosophy to instill confidence and determination in each of his players to help get the most out of every person on the field.
“We need to establish an expectation that we’ll play with maximum effort from beginning to end,” he said.
Developing an identity that teams fear playing against has worked for Collins in the past.
“We’ll be aware that there’s going to be adversity throughout every game, and throughout the year,” he said, “but [we’ll also be aware] that we have all the tools we need to manage and overcome it.”
With expectations running high as the Vikings jumped out to a 3-1 start in September, Collins said the excitement is palpable–and to win is going to take work.
“Success doesn’t come by accident,” he said.
larin termed “so-called ‘bots,’” to enroll in classes. She said enrollment fraud “is perpetuated not by machines, but by criminals taking advantage of students and taxpayers.”
But instructors like Bessie are still left with many unanswered questions about the pervasive scam.
“I didn’t know the nature of the phrase ‘fraudulent enrollment,’” said Bessie. “Like, what is it? Is it AI? Is it actual humans? Where is it coming from? What is the scam?”
He added that his biggest concern is that real students might be “deterred from classes or lose [class] space in a time when there’s heavy demand,” which may make them more likely to drop out of college entirely.
“From an equity and student success standpoint, that’s a real, serious problem,” he said.
older generations having more say on what happens in the country.”
Pergamit’s comments reflect a bigger problem with the political system, where younger voters generally feel as though their voices aren’t heard on issues important to them, from gun violence to abortion to climate change.
This fall, DVC students can cast their ballots on the Pleasant Hill campus, where there is a voter registration kiosk computer available in the library and at the computer lab in the Student Union Building.
As voters prepare to head to the polls in November, Gen Zers are eligible to vote, but the question is: will they show up? As many observers predict, the presence—or absence—of young voters could truly make this “the most important election in modern history.”
Courtesy of DVC Athletics
ASDVC, from page 4
Lopez said she hopes others also can gain from her lesson.
“That little action of me saying, ‘You know what, I’m going to see what ASDVC is about,’ led me to that congressional visit,” Lopez said.
“If I can help [others] reach the point that I have reached since I’ve been here, I would love to see students find out who they are, and grow as [people].”
Tackling challenges
Lopez said that although she has learned a lot, she admits she still has
room to grow in regard to managing her time and juggling her priorities. Specifically, she cited the challenges of balancing her leadership position with schoolwork, a job and family life.
Last semester, she worked before school at a barista job that started at four in the morning. This made it difficult for her to manage her time but also taught her discipline and work ethic.
She said her passion for connecting with students and making a positive impact on their lives was worth the lack of sleep.
Looking ahead, Lopez said she aims to
connect more with San Ramon students and ensure they have access to the same opportunities and resources of DVC students on the Pleasant Hill campus.
Lopez and her team are currently working on advocating for halal food options on campus and fostering connections with international students.
Lopez highlighted the importance of student perspectives in the school’s decision-making and in helping bring about improvements to student life on campus, and encouraged students to join and take advantage of the opportunities ASDVC offers.
Upcoming Events
She recalled her favorite memory from the ASDVC trip to Washington, DC, last year, when she was “standing in that room, talking, thinking about everyone that I’m representing and everyone that is being affected by the things I’m saying, [and] I think, ‘Oh my God, I did that.’”
“I think that’s huge for our students to know that you do have a spot in decision-making,” Lopez added. “You have a spot in absolutely everything that’s going on at our campus.”
Courtesy of ASDVC
As the student-elected governing body, ASDVC conducts public forums at the Student Union Building to mediate between the college administration and the students.
