Team
What are you thankful for?
As part of our focus on gratitude and generosity this month, we asked the Merced College family: Why are you thankful to be working at Merced College? Is there a certain person or group of people who you’re especially grateful for? The responses were heartwarming and inspiring, and we hope you enjoy these little doses of gratitude in this season of Thanksgiving.
Sabrina Frias
Counselor
I am deeply grateful for the Admissions & Records Department and the Welcome Center at Merced College. Their dedication to helping with everything from application, orientation, registration, graduation applications, transcripts and more has been invaluable. Whenever I have a question or need to make a warm handoff with a student, they are always supportive, ensuring a smoother process for students, faculty and staff. Their commitment truly enhances the experience at Merced College, and I am thankful for all that they do!
Jacki Alvarez
Professor of Philosophy
I am grateful for Merced College students. Students are the reason, the hope and the fun I get to have daily. They keep me young by teaching me phrases like “bruh” and “no cap” so that I can succeed socially at work. But more than this, they are reminder every day what my purpose and hope for the future is. Getting to share knowledge I have learned, while also learning from them and their experiences, challenges my own thinking.
Bryan Tassey
Dean of Career Technical Education
I am incredibly grateful for the outstanding team in the School of Agriculture and Industrial Technology at Merced College. Their dedication to hands-on learning and innovative teaching methods is truly inspiring. They consistently go above and beyond to ensure students gain practical skills and knowledge that prepare them for successful careers. Additionally, I want to acknowledge the unwavering support from our managers and classified professionals. Their hard work behind the scenes ensures that our programs run smoothly and efficiently. Their commitment to excellence and their collaborative spirit make them an invaluable part of our college community.
April Heft
Professor of Child Development
Los Banos Campus all-stars, I am grateful for you! it is truly a pleasure working alongside such dedicated and passionate colleagues that make every challenge feel a little lighter and each celebration a bit sweeter. Your unwavering support and devotion displayed to our students makes all the difference. I am grateful for quick chats in the hallways, smiling faces and waving hands across campus, and your willingness to always help no matter the circumstance. Each interaction reminds me of how lucky we are to be part of this community. “In the workplace, gratitude is the bridge that connects effort to accomplishment.” – Anonymous
Karla Narváez-Flores
Manager, Adult Education & Noncredit
I’m incredibly grateful to work with the Adult Education & Noncredit program, where serving our adult learner community is truly a privilege. Helping them on their educational journey and seeing them progress into Merced College’s credit classes is deeply rewarding. It’s fulfilling to support each student’s personal and professional growth, and I’m inspired by their determination and resilience. Working together, we help build brighter futures and strengthen our community.
Carmen Moreno
Administrative Coordinator School of Agriculture & Industrial Technology
I’m grateful for Dean Garrick Grace. Through Garrick’s work at the Innovation Center, he cultivated a team of highly engaged staff who are happy to come to work and who strive to always do their best. He is passionate about education, and he cares about people. He has made a positive and lasting difference at Merced College and I’m grateful to have worked with him.
Lorena Calderon
Counselor
We are extremely grateful for Jourdan French-Henri! Jourdan carried the graduation application season this semester with skill and proficiency. She was patient and efficient while holding down the fort on her own for a while. She is the epitome of a team player, working collaboratively with the counseling team while also prioritizing the goals of her department. She was easy to communicate with when needed, and always projected a positive working relationship with us. We are so grateful for all of her hard work, including long evening and weekend hours she put in. Thank you, Jourdan! We appreciate you!
Sandi Goudy
Senior Programmer Analyst Information Technology Services
I am grateful for Brian DeMoss, Director Enterprise Applications. I’ve had two great bosses in my career, and Brian is one of them. He listens. He allows flexibility in scheduling when needed. He’s an encyclopedia of information, and he shares. He gives credit when due and does not take credit from others. I am grateful for my entire department, but most grateful for him! He takes my best interests and the district’s and marries them together, making for less stress and a positive work environment. He knows my workload, and his is greater, but he always has time for me when needed. I wish everyone could say the same.
London Cantrell
Student Services Assistant Student Success and Tutorial Center
I am grateful for all of our tutors and student assistants here at the SSTC! These students are some of the kindest and most welcoming group of people I have ever met. I am grateful for the positivity they bring to the center every day, and they always have students leaving happy. The tutorial program is a fantastic example of students supporting one another in their academic success, and I am so grateful to be a part of this program.
Joe Serena
Dean of Student Equity & Success
I am incredibly grateful for the hardworking managers, faculty, and classified staff in the Downey Learning Resource Center. This building is one of the busiest places on campus, and it’s clear that the support provided here makes a huge difference for our students. From tutoring to library services, the team goes above and beyond to meet students’ academic needs. One great example of their impact is from the Student Success and Tutorial Center (SSTC). Students who accessed tutoring services more than 10 times achieved an impressive 86.18% course success rate, compared to the district average of 72.48%. The dedication and commitment of the staff in this center are key to helping students succeed academically, especially those who need that extra bit of support to reach their goals. Their work truly embodies our mission of student equity and success by creating a space where every student can thrive.
Dennis Shanley
Program Assistant, Career Advancement Academy
I am grateful to have a job with Merced College, and more specifically, grateful to be working with the instructors and other assistants in the Career Advancement Academy program. The team I work with, and have worked with for over eight years now, is very dedicated to recruiting and training students to become medical and non-medical office employees in various businesses throughout Merced County. I am grateful for those I work with—Patti, Jan, Chris, Andrea, Olga, and Alicia—because they all care about doing the best possible job and supporting the students in our program to the best of their collective abilities. I also want to give a special shout-out to Sal and Karla, who are always there to help our students through registration issues. It takes everyone involved to ensure the success of our students. I am also grateful for the students who chose to spend a part of their lives with us in pursuing a different career path.
Margaret Salas
Office Technician, Counseling Department
I’m thankful for a job and for $12 health insurance premiums! In the past three years I’ve had surgeries and procedures which I’m sure cost in the thousands of dollars, and yet I have only paid a few hundred dollars total for them. We have an awesome insurance program.