The Northeast Campus Steering Committee

In mid-2002 LACC invited faculty, staff, and community to participate as members of the Northeast Campus Steering Committee. The purpose of the committee is to provide input, guidance, and feedback regarding design, academic programming, and operations of the new campus as the College moves deeper into the planning process and closer to the start of construction. The first meeting was in November of 2002, and the committee has been convening on a monthly basis ever since. LACC wants to acknowledge this distinguished and dedicated group, and thank them for volunteering their time and energy toward helping to make this new campus a truly special place.

Raoul De la Sota, Art Professor Emeritus having taught studio arts and art history at the LACC Art Department for 35 years, is included in the two-volume 2002 publication Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art, the first survey book on artists that deals with iconography related to Chicano culture and its roots in Latin America.

Luis Flores, A graduate of UCLA and USC, and Professor at LACC since 1999, has been an educator since 1985 in the areas of Computer Science and Information Systems. He also teaches part-time at UCLA Extension.

Jeff Obana, Assistant Site Administrator in charge of programming and resource development, has been with LACC since 2002. He is an urban planner with a background in economics and public administration.

Melisa Quinn, Grants Coordinator for the Office of Institutional Advancement at LACC, is a graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in American Culture. Her professional experience includes working with corporations, non-profit organizations, and individuals dedicated to building sustainable neighborhoods.  

Betsy Regalado, Dean, Student Access & Retention. For the past nine years she has worked in Student Services where she served as a Counselor, Assistant Director and Director.  Her administrative responsibilities include supervision and management of the largest EOP&S program in the State of California and three federal grants - Upward Bound, Student Support Services and Gear Up.  

Mary Sanchez, Senior Secretary, Office of Institutional Advancement, is a former student of LACC. Her previous work experience includes office manager and Executive Vice President for ASGB, and from 1984 to 1999 she held positions as Secretary and Senior Secretary for Learning Skills Center, Amnesty, and Academic Affairs Programs.

Patty Schmolze, Coordinator of Staff and Organizational Development with more than 25 years of experience at LACC, she facilitates programs for professional and personal development for faculty, staff and administrators. Patty is also a Professional Development Committee Member for the Faculty Association for California Community Colleges (FACCC).

Daniel Seymour, Executive Dean at LACC since 2000 and the Site Administrator for VDK. He is an organizational development professional specializing in planning, performance improvement and process design. He is a doctorally-qualified professor, nationally-known speaker and author, and has served as a successful consultant.

Martha Sklar, Dean of Academic Affairs, is a graduate of Roosevelt University. She completed her PhD in mathematics education at Northwestern University and has been a member of the LACC family since 1976.

Trent Tornabene, Assistant Site Administrator, is an urban planner whose areas of specialization include economic and community-based regional development. He has been at LACC since 2001 and is in charge of project planning and construction.

Braj Tiwari, Math Instructor, who holds a M.A. in Economics from Kanpur University and a M.S. in Accounting from Bowling Green State University, has been a faculty member in Business Administration Department since 1991. Prof. Tiwari has approx. 10 years of commercial banking experience and has previously taught at colleges in Kentucky and Connecticut.

Linda Wilbur, Instructor, Child Development, has been a full time instructor at LACC for two years. She teaches Child Development Courses for future teachers, Early Intervention Specialists and other professions related to young children. 

Lillian Yamaoka, Professor of Health who is completing her 31st year at LACC, has served in and chaired committees as a Faculty Senate Vice President, the Associated Student Body Government, Shared Governance Committee, and the AFT Faculty Guild. 

Andrew Garsten, Spokesperson, Coalition to Save Van de Kamp's and technology marketing executive, has been on the forefront of community activism in numerous planning and quality of life issues in northeast Los Angeles for the last five years.

Netty Carr, Cofounder of the Coalition to Save Van de Kamp’s, owner of Netty's Restaurant in Silver Lake, and Board Member of Friends of Atwater Village, is actively involved in preserving historical elements in and around Atwater Village.

Miki Jackson, Artist, designer, founder of "Aunt Bees" (a non-profit agency providing advocacy and education for People With AIDS), and active participant with the Coalition to Save Van de Kamp’s, Miki currently serves as a Government Affairs and Public Policy consultant for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.