Opening Day Convocation Launches 2025-2026 Academic Year
Cypress College’s Opening Day convocation welcomed faculty back to launch the 2025-2026 academic year in the newly renovated Campus Theater, which featured new carpet and new seats — many more of which were filled thanks to the robust participation of approximately 150 adjunct faculty members.
The audience was welcomed with a video highlighting the Visual and Performing Arts Division’s ongoing exhibit at John Wayne Airport, which runs through August 31, 2025, followed by remarks by NOCCCD Board of Trustees President Jeffrey P. Brown, who eloquently tied the plot of a novel about cartographers and maps to faculty and staff being pins in students’ “life maps,” and NOCCCD Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland who continued with the theme of maps and destinations.
“Cypress is part of a destination district. Across our region, people are recognizing NOCCCD as a place of innovation, equity, and deep community connection. That reputation didn’t just happen—it’s something you’ve earned through consistent effort, compassion, and excellence,” Dr. Breland said. “Being a destination means more than having great programs or facilities. It means being a place where people want to be—because they feel seen, supported, and inspired. And you’ve made that true here at Cypress.”
Part of being seen includes honoring the work employees have done here at Cypress College.
Academic Senate President Jaclyn Magginetti introduced the Academic Senate’s three award recipients, each of whom were featured in short videos. The recipients are: Kendyl Covey, Outstanding Full-Time Faculty; Raymond Gibson, Outstanding Adjunct Faculty; and Jennifer Coopman, Charger Award. Magginetti also introduced Francisco Perez, who was selected by students as the campus’ Orange County Teacher of the Year nominee. Cypress College President Scott Thayer re-presented the North Star Award to Marcie Kagawa. The award was originally given by Chancellor’s Staff at the Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Board of Trustees meeting.
Dr. Thayer also introduced 47 new or newly promoted employees, including 16 faculty who are joining as the largest group of new permanent instructors in recent memory.
New Faculty
- Carolyn Caffrey, Librarian
- Parras Chand, Computer Science
- Michael Franklin, Cyber Security
- Ryan Garcia, Radiology
- Evelyn Gamez, Foreign Language
- Brianna Gonzales-Harwell, Kinesiology Counselor
- James Griffin, Chemistry
- Jennifer Loza, Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Kayley Okamura, Ethnic Studies
- Brandon Penesa, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating
- Justin Perkins, Communication Studies
- James Qu, Business
- Rosemary Rangel, Puente Counselor
- Grant Speich, Film/MAD
- Bridget Steiner, Biology
- Michelle Walker, Nursing
New & Newly Promoted Classified Staff
- Mary Helen Albrecht, Professional Development
- Laura Andrade, Career Planning Center
- Kevin Bailey, Jr., Academic Computing
- Brianna Brito, Social Sciences Division
- Irene Bustamante, Financial Aid
- Yvonne Calderon, VPAS Office
- Lisa Cisneros, Financial Aid
- Mary Helen Delira, M & O
- Marylou Garibaldi, DSS
- Alexander Hoang, Writing Center
- Nathan Johnson, Health Science Division
- Summer Justice, VPI Office
- Joselyn Knight, Curriculum
- Donny Lemos, M & O
- Carlos Martinez III, VRC
- Nishad Marathe, Financial Aid
- Jessica Oyas, Campus Safety
- Valezrina Pham, SEM Division
- Nancy Pinedjian, Health and Wellness Center
- Laura Razo, M & O
- Aahren Rhodes, A & R
- Regina Russell, VPI Office
- Celena Toral, M & O
- Eduardo Torres-Garcia, M & O
- Brian Travaglia, M & O
New Managers
- Moises Del Real Viramontes, Transfer Center
- Brittany Hamer, Charger Experience
- Marbelly Jairam, CTE
- Randy Martinez, Social Sciences
- Thu Nguyen, Campus Accounting
- Ryan O’Connell, International Students
New Vice Presidents
- Dr. Tony Jake, VP of Administrative Services
- Dr. Terri Long, Interim VP of Instruction
These employees will, too, become pins in students’ life maps.
Other presenters included Associated Students President Angel Hernandez and Classified Senate President Christy Montenegro. Members of President’s Staff also presented, with each providing updates and highlights from their areas of responsibility.
Dr. Thayer presented #OneCypress: A culture of collaboration, caring, and celebration.
“I picture Cypress College as an island oasis where we and our students can … focus on the future world we are helping them create,” Thayer said.
We wouldn’t be able to help our students create a future if we had not created Cypress College first. One person, the Matriarch of Cypress College, Dr. Patricia Ganer, opening-day student of Cypress College in 1966 who returned as a member of the faculty, a position she held for 46 years, was instrumental in the college’s history. The event closed in her memory. There is no doubt she was a pin in many people’s life maps.