The Gavilan College Board of Trustees awarded tenure to eight
faculty members at its Feb. 15 meeting.
Tenure is a condition of continuing employment that is accorded
a faculty member by the district, following a four-year
probationary period, on the basis of evaluation and recommendation
by a faculty committee with concurrence by the faculty member’s
departmental dean, vice president of instruction, and the college
president.
The Gavilan College Board of Trustees awarded tenure to eight faculty members at its Feb. 15 meeting.
Tenure is a condition of continuing employment that is accorded a faculty member by the district, following a four-year probationary period, on the basis of evaluation and recommendation by a faculty committee with concurrence by the faculty member’s departmental dean, vice president of instruction, and the college president.
Tenure is granted only when there is a reasonable assurance, based on performance, that the faculty member will continue to meet the standards for tenure at the college. Tenure has as its fundamental purpose the protection of academic freedom in order to maintain a free and open intellectual atmosphere. The justification lies in the character of scholarly activity. Everyday teaching and research require a measure of professional autonomy to assure professional integrity and academic quality.
Gilbert Ramirez, BS in Marketing, San Jose State University, AA Gavilan Community College
Ramirez is a valued member of the Cosmetology department. He teaches beginning Cosmetology, focusing on the fundamental principles of the science and art of the beauty culture including hair design, chemical services and cosmetic therapy. He is highly respected by his colleagues, serving on the college Learning Council. He also serves as the advisory faculty member for the student Cosmetology Club. He is an active community member and has served on the Gilroy Garlic Festival advisory Board for more than 10 years. Ramirez is currently in his first year of his Masters program in Administration and Education.
Kevin Kramer, MA in Education (Cross Cultural Education) from National University (2003), BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara (2001), Single Subject Teaching Credential in Physical Education, AA in Liberal Studies from Chabot College (2000)
Kramer was hired in 2007 as the head women’s volleyball coach/physical education instructor. Since his arrival, his team has made two consecutive appearances in the CCCAA State Playoffs, and has been crowned Coast Conference Champion (2009, first volleyball championship in school history). Under his guidance, the team set school records for most wins in a season (17), most conference wins in a single season (9), and set the longest win streak record at (9) in 2009. Kramer was selected by his peers as Coast Conference Coach of the year (2009.) He has resurrected the Adrenaline Volleyball Club into a perennial program for young and up and coming volleyball players. Kramer currently serves as President Elect for the California Community College Women’s Volleyball Coaches Association and serves Gavilan College as an active member of Academic Senate and has served on hiring committees.
Nikki Dequin, MA in Kinesiology, Sports Management, from San Jose State University, BS in Kinesiology (Teaching) (Cum Laude, 2000), AA in Liberal Arts from Gavilan College (1997), Dequin holds certifications in the following areas: American Fitness & Aerobics Association, Group Exercise & Kickboxing, National Academy of Sports Medicine, PES-Performance Enhancing Specialist, and Certified Personal Trainer
Dequin was hired in 2005 as the part-time head softball coach/instructor. Since her arrival, she has made three consecutive appearances in the CCCAA State Playoffs, set the school record for most wins in a season (34), and was twice named Coast Conference Coach of the Year (in 2005 and 2010.) She currently serves as President Elect for the California Community College Fast Pitch Coaches Association and serves Gavilan College on the Equivalency Committee
Blanca Arteaga, MA San Jose State University, Counselor Education 2006, BA San Jose State University, Child Development 2004, AA Gavilan College, Liberal Studies 2002
Arteaga, EOPS/CalWORKs Counselor, enrolled at Gavilan as an EOPS Summer Bridge student in 2000, upon graduating from Live Oak High School. Since that time, she has distinguished herself as a role model for countless low-income and first generation Latino students with her kind, competent but firm guidance. She has facilitated the graduation and transfer of hundreds of students and has taught Guidance and Business credit and non-credit classes. She actively contributes to several institutional committees at Gavilan College, the Learning Council, Faculty Staff Development Committee, Outreach Committee, and Foster Youth Committee, where she developed a website for foster youth to access resources on campus and in the community. She is currently working on her doctorate at San Francisco State University focusing on retention and persistence.
Scott Sandler, BA from CSU Northridge English (1990), MA from University of Southern Mississippi, English, Writing (1993)
Sandler began teaching as part of his graduate work and continued post-degree to gain extensive experience in a variety of post-secondary institutions in Southern California. He began teaching at Gavilan as an adjunct instructor in 2002, and he distinguished himself with his commitment to teaching, and serving as a co-launcher of the Brown Bag lunch series. He was hired full time in 2007, and he has gone on to lead the English Department as a Puente instructor, a technologically innovative online instructor, and as the creator of the highly successful portfolio assessment system. He presently serves as one of the chairs of the Gavilan College Learning Council.
Robin Kreider, BA in Sociology with highest honors from UC Davis (1998), MS Cornell University in 2002, Ph.D Development Sociology from Cornell in 2007
Kreider joined the faculty at Gavilan College in 2007. She became active in the sociology department, working on new majors and becoming one of the leaders in the Service Learning initiative. She has brought insight to many campus forums and is serving on the Academic Senate. Kreider remains active in research in her field.
Shelley Giacalone, B.A. in Communication Studies from UCLA in 1998, MA in Speech Communication from San Jose State University in 2006
Giacalone began as a part-time instructor at Gavilan and impressed students and staff alike with her lively classes and involvement in Institutional efforts including GavFest and Bach to Blues. She became involved in Basic Skills and served as the Chair of the Teaching and Learning effort, where she successfully coordinated a range of professional development activities. She was hired full time in 2007 and has been providing energy and commitment to instruction and institutional efforts ever since. Of particular note are her efforts in Service Learning and program development.
Nicole Cisneros, B.A. from University of the Pacific in 1994, M.A. in TESOL from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 1996, Language Program Administration Certificate, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA (1996), California single subject teaching credential (Spanish), Chapman University, Monterey, CA 1996
Cisneros began teaching at Gavilan in 1997 as a part-time instructor. She is actively involved in the ESL Department, leading efforts in Hollister and has participated in assessment and lab developments. She was hired full time in 2007. She is a leader in technology development and training within the ESL department and has recently has taken on a technology position in the new Title V Grant.
