Meet

Carolyn

Growing up in Southern California

Carolyn was born and raised in Southern California. Her mother was a waitress, and her father left school in the sixth grade to work and help the family survive tough times. Her mother became a single mother and moved to Oregon to be with family. A new chef came to the Eugene Hotel and he and her mother married. He was from a large family and worked hard to become a chef. Challenging work and setting goals were part of Carolyn’s make up. Carolyn always knew she would go to college because her mother, who left in her first year of nursing school to get married, encouraged her to do so.

Carolyn attended public schools in Torrance where she started her political career by being elected Student Body President. She served in several offices as well as clubs, the speech team, and the Thespian Society.

After attending El Camino Community College, she received her BA in Speech and English, along with a Lifetime Teaching Credential (K-14) from UCLA, and her MA in Speech from CSU Northridge.

A Lifetime as an Educator

Carolyn tells the story that when she was a child she lined up the teddy bears and the dolls and taught them things. “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she says. And, indeed, that is what she did.

She chose to begin her teaching career in private high schools so that she could be Director of Forensics and coach winning speech and debate teams. Later she was an Irvine public-school teacher, before becoming a professor at Cerritos College and Mt. San Antonio College.

At Mount San Antonio College, she served as Director of Forensics where she helped coach the national community college championship team. Phi Rho Pi. She was also Faculty President, Academic Senate Secretary, Communication Department Chair, and Director of the Honors Program. She served as advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honorary society for two-year colleges. She was honored to be named, “2008 Outstanding Teacher of the Year” by Mt. San Antonio College.

Because textbooks were getting too expensive, Carolyn and other members of the speech department authored their own book. They also wanted to have their ideas in the text they used for Speech 1A class.

Serving the overall community college community, she was President of the Honors Transfer Council of California, President of the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association. 

Serving the Community

Carolyn’s retirement opened up time to serve in ways that she did not have time to do while working full time.

City of Irvine and Orange County: 

  • City of Irvine Child Care Committee

  • City of Irvine Children, Youth & Families Advisory Committee: Co-Chair; Helped prepare and present to City Council the Strategic Plan for Seniors  

  • City of Irvine Senior Council, Chair 

  • Orange County Senior Citizens Advisory Committee (SCAC): Chair Housing and Transportation Committee. 

  • Recent appointment to the new City of Irvine Health and Wellness Committee.

Advocating for women and children:

  • Crime Survivors: Worked with founder Patritia Wenskunas to improve the path for survivors. 

  • The Joyful Child: Worked with founder Erin Runnion as an Ambassador, where she gave presentations on how to make children safe. 

  • The Seven Characters of Abuse – Where It Starts and Where It Can End.: Worked with Tanya Brown on her speeches and authored a book to help individuals suffering from domestic abuse. Carolyn then gave speeches on the book throughout the country.

Serving in a new capacity: Trustee

Carolyn was elected to the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees in 2020 and was reelected in 2024 when she was selected President. She is the only trustee to have taught every grade from kindergarten to community college, providing a uniquely qualified background and experience to deeply understand students and faculty issues. She loves working on behalf of students and all staff to help support their student success. 

In addition to her regular duties on the board, she has been appointed to the following positions:

  • Chancellor’s Representative, Irvine Valley College Foundation where she has established scholarships for former foster youth and student veterans.

  • Community College Representative, Orange County School Board Association

  • Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)

  • Communications and Education Committee, ACCT  

  • Advisory Committee on Education (ACES). Community College League of California (CCLC)