The individual stories of those that make up the State Center Community College District

PATRICK PATTERSON

by Patrick Forrest, News Editor

State Center Community College District Board of Trustees President has been putting together policy ideas for a while. The retired police Captain has been not only the leader for the district board, but also spokesperson for the district on many issues including the hiring and retiring of Chancellor Deborah Blue.

Patterson was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1983, after graduating from the University of Southern California with a MPA in Public Administration in 1974.

Patrick Patterson was elected to the Board of Trustees in November of 1983, and represents Area 6. His current term of office is until 2012.

President Patterson is a retired Police Captain of the City of Clovis, California. He also graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a BS in Social Science and Economics in 1972, and earned his Liberal Arts AA in 1970 from Citrus Junior College.

President Patterson is a member of the SCCC Foundation Board and serves as a Director of the Valley Insurance Program JPA.

RONALD H. NISHINAKA

by Patrick Forrest, News Editor

Ronald H. Nishinaka was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2010, and represents Area 4. His current term of office is until 2014.

Vice President Nishinaka is a retired faculty member from Reedley College where he taught horticulture for 37½ years. Vice President Nishinaka served the Reedley community as Mayor Pro Tem and City Council Member for two terms, and chairman of the Fresno County Southeast Regional Solid Waste Commission which included Fowler, Kingsburg, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, Selma, and two county supervisorial districts. Currently, he serves as projects director with Tree Fresno.

Vice President Nishinaka graduated from Reedley College with an Associate Degree in Landscape Horticulture. He went on and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from CSU Fresno and Master’s Degree from the University of San Francisco. He obtained his Vocational Teaching Credential through Special Studies, University of California at Berkeley.

ERIC PAYNE

by Cresencio Rodriguez, Multimedia Journalist

Eric Payne attended Alabama A&M University where he graduated as a Biology, Chemistry and Pre-Med major along with a minor in Business Administration.

Having earned his bachelor’s, Payne also attained a Master of Science degree in Microbiology with a concentration in Mycology from Alabama A&M University.

Payne has been with the State Center Community College District board since 2012. He graduated from Washington Union High School in Fresno.

Despite his achievements, Payne has had some trouble with the law.

In a 2013 police report by a State Center officer, Payne was recommended for a citation on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful use of a handicap placard.

The State Center officer claimed that he saw a vehicle “cornering aggressively as it took the turn at a high rate of speed.”

The report, which was obtained by the Fresno Bee, says Payne exited the vehicle and jogged past the officer and made his way into the District Office building.

Payne, 29 at the time, was not handicapped and claimed the placard, which was expired, was his cousin’s and used it when he took her out to run errands.

After the board meeting, Payne was contacted by SCCCD Police Chief, Bruce Hartman and Payne was taken to the SCCCD police office where he had his photo and fingerprints taken.

RICHARD CAGLIA

by Patrick Forrest, News Editor

Richard Caglia was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2008 and represents Area 7. His term of office is until 2012.

Mr. Caglia is a graduate of San Joaquin Memorial High School, Fresno City College, California State University, Fresno, and the San Joaquin College of Law. He works with his family in their Fresno-based businesses.

ISABEL BARRERAS

by Jarrett Ramones, Multimedia Journalist

In November of 2002 Isabel Berreras was elected to the Board of Trustees to represent area 1 of the State Center Community College District, Madera County. Berreras went to Madera Community College Center before transferring to Fresno State and graduated with a bachelor’s in liberal studies. Berreras then attended National University in San Diego where she earned a master’s in public administration.

Berreras was the vice president  of the Madera Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and now serves as the president of the California Latino Association of Community College Trustees. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the California Community College Trustees.

DOROTHY SMITH

by Jarrett Ramones, Multimedia Journalist

In November of 1981 Dorothy “Dotty” Smith was elected to the Board of Trustees to represent Area 5 of the State Center Community College District.

Smith graduated from Fresno State and is now an Educational Administrator for Fresno Unified School District.

Secretary Smith once served on the Board of Directors for the California Community Colleges and for the California Community College League.

Smith now Serves as the Director-At-Large for the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees and is a member of the SCCC Foundation Board.

JOHN LEAL

by Cresencio Rodriguez, Multimedia Journalist

Fresno City College alumnus, and State Center Community College District board member, John Leal is a family man whose main interest very well may be education.

During his 2012 race to the Area 3 seat of the SCCCD, Leal expressed his devotion to education by letting people know his heart was still into it despite being retired for two years.

“My heart is still into it. I’m young enough and energetic enough,” Leal said, according to a 2012 story by Tomas Kassahun, a former sports editor for the Rampage.

Leal began his career as an SCCCD board member in November 2012. His tenure will keep him in his position until the year 2016.

Having attended Roosevelt High School and Fresno City College, Leal graduated from California State University,

Fresno with a bachelor’s in Spanish.

With much knowledge in the field of education, Leal has held several K-12 administrative positions. He served as the Assistant Principal at his alma mater, Roosevelt High School and at Caruthers High School.