Trustee Marisa Perez Elected President of the California Community College Trustees Board

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2022

Media Contact:Miya Walker; Public Affairs

Marisa PerezNORWALK, Calif. – May 10, 2022 – Cerritos College Trustee Marisa Perez was elected to serve as the 2022-23 California Community College Trustees (CCCT) Board President. She is currently serving her second three-year term on the CCCT Board from 2020 to 2023. She also represents the CCCT Board on Chancellor Eloy Oakley’s EEO and Diversity Advisory Committee.

The CCCT Board consists of 21 members representing more than 400 California community college trustees and 73 community college districts. The CCCT Board formulates education policy issues that are often adopted by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the State Legislature, and other relevant state-level boards and commissions. 

Perez was elected to the Cerritos College Board of Trustees in November 2012 and was re-elected in 2016 and 2020. She represents Trustee Area 4, which includes Hawaiian Gardens and portions of the cities of Lakewood, Bellflower, Cerritos, and Long Beach. Perez has held all three board officer positions: President (2012-13 and 2019-20), Clerk (2013-15), and Vice President (2015-16 and 2018-19). 

Perez currently serves as Executive Deputy for Metro Board Member Fernando Dutra. She previously served as a board advisor to the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s governing board member. Perez is a former White House advisor to President George W. Bush.  In 2018, she was awarded the Champion of Equity Award by the Campaign for College Opportunity and the National Organization of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

“I am looking forward to collaborating with CEOs and trustees from the 116 community colleges across the state and the Chancellor’s Office,” said Perez. “With a strong focus on student success, we will continue to work on increasing student completion and graduation rates and meeting the basic needs of students. The CCCT Board will also be championing policies to help ensure every student has access to college-level courses when they first enter college and expanding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our faculty and staff."

 

About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers nearly 300 degrees and certificates in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 21,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu. 

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