June 6, 2024

Alen Andriassian Named New VP of Student Services at Glendale Community College

 

Following a nationwide search, Alen R. Andriassian has been selected as the next Vice President of Student Services at Glendale Community College (GCC), after District Board of Trustees approval May 21, 2024. He will begin his work at GCC in July.

Andriassian has served as the Los Angeles City College (LACC) Vice President of Student Services for the past six years, where he has been an important member of their executive team focused on building community and promoting innovation. Prior to his position as Vice President, he served as Dean of Outreach and Student Life and Associate Dean of Student Life at LACC, and Manager of Outreach/Assessment and Coordinator of Student Life at GCC.

Andriassian is an alumnus of GCC where he received his Associate in Arts degree and served as the Associated Students President and Student Trustee. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Loyola Marymount University, a Master of Public Administration from California State University Northridge, and he will defend his doctoral dissertation titled “Socio Politically Conscious Leadership” at the University of Southern California in June.

Andriassian resides in Glendale with his wife and two children. Before attending GCC, he attended Wilson Middle School and Glendale High School in the Glendale Unified School District. “Glendale Community College laid the foundation for my educational journey. I began at GCC as a completely unengaged student, but the faculty, staff, and administrators transformed my life. As a former GCC classified employee and manager, I learned the fundamentals of becoming an educator. It is with great pride that I will be coming home to Glendale, where I was born and raised, as the first Armenian Vice President at GCC. I am truly blessed to be returning to where it all began and where my heart has always been.”

Dr. Ryan Cornner, GCC’s Superintendent/President said, “Alen chose a career in higher education because of the mentorship and guidance he received throughout his educational journey, especially from his predecessor Dr. Paul Schlossman. Alen has expertise in leadership, team building, problem solving, outreach/onboarding, and providing a positive experience for students. We look forward to the many contributions he is sure to provide to GCC.”

Added GCC Board of Trustees President Dr. Sevan Benlian, ”Alen coming back to GCC as the first Armenian vice president at the college is significant for representation. He is a shining example to our Armenian students that careers in education are purposeful and have opportunities for advancement and he has lived his life as part of the thriving Armenian community in Glendale.”

 

May 6, 2024 

POET BART EDELMAN RETURNS TO GCC FOR READING

 

GLENDALE, CA---

 

Poet Bart Edelman, a retired Glendale Community College professor, will give a reading from his latest book, “This Body Is Never at Rest: New and Selected Poems 1993 – 2023” (Meadowlark Press) on Thursday, May 23 at 12:30 p.m. in Kreider Hall.

 

A resident of Pasadena, CA, Edelman was born in Paterson, New Jersey, spending his childhood in Teaneck, NJ. He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Hofstra University. He taught at colleges in New York and California, including as Poet-in-Residence at Monroe College of the State University of New York. His work has been widely anthologized in textbooks published by City Lights Books, Etruscan Press, Fountainhead Press, Harcourt Brace, Longman, McGraw-Hill and many others.

 

Edelman recalls his time at GCC fondly. “I taught at GCC for 37 years, full-time. I was happy as a lark.  I taught a gamut of courses, including Humanities and several different English courses. I also helped create the Humanities/Social Science Lecture Series way back when, and published Eclipse, a national literary journal, from 2000 to 2014.  We included GCC student work in addition to writers of distinction from all over the country and those who lived abroad.

 

While at GCC, I was fortunate enough to receive literary grants from USC, the University of Texas at Austin, and the US Department of Education, to conduct research in India, Egypt, Nigeria, and Poland.  I also taught for the GCC Study Abroad program in Prague. I retired in 2013 and taught poetry for five years in the MFA program at Antioch University, Los Angeles.

 

Now, I primarily use my time to write and publish in various literary journals on a national and international level. I still appear at various colleges, conduct workshops, and continue to read to audiences from my eight poetry books.” 

 

The reading is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.

 

 

March 25, 2024

 

GCC PULITZER CENTER SELECTS 2024 FELLOW

 

GLENDALE, CA---

 

The Glendale Community College Pulitzer Center has selected Samantha Smith as its 2024 Pulitzer Center Fellow.

On April 9, there will be a Pulitzer Center Student Seminar where the 2023 and 2024 fellows will discuss their experiences. It will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Sierra Vista room 130. The event also includes a women’s history round table and journalism presentation.

“The program will include workshops on the intersection between history and journalism, and will allow students to hear from our previous and current fellow. Glendale College is the only community college on the West Coast collaborating with the Pulitzer Center in D.C. Students have unique opportunities to hear from guest speakers, attend workshops, and apply to become the annual fellow. The best way to learn how to apply is by attending a seminar or info session, one of which is held each semester,” said journalism instructor Dr. Reut Cohen Schorr, co-director and co-founder of the GCC Pulitzer Center with history instructor Michelle Stonis.                                                                                                                                                                                                              Smith was chosen after deliberation with the Washington, D.C. based Pulitzer Center. She will be covering Formula 1 racing and the absence of women in the popular sport. She will be traveling to England this summer to conduct her interviewing and research.

Smith graduated from GCC last semester with an Associate's Degree in Journalism. She is continuing her education at California State University, Northridge with a BA in Journalism. Although she is an alumna, she will continue to represent GCC through her tenure as Fellow. Smith has had many opportunities to delve into the sports journalism world through her work with the college's Journalism Department newspaper, El Vaquero. She was a sports writer and interned in the summer of 2022 at NFL media. Her passions include empowering women in sports, which led her to the inequality in Formula 1. She is eager to raise awareness of the disadvantages that women attempting to become a Formula 1 driver face.

The 2023 fellow was Brittany Klintworth, who covered the intersection of fast fashion and feminism. She traveled to Italy to research sustainable fashion house Progetto QUID.

The Pulitzer Center is a joint collaboration between the GCC Journalism and History Departments. It was co-founded by Professor Michelle Stonis and journalism instructor Dr. Reut Cohen Schorr to facilitate a vibrant and comprehensive educational program to support students reporting specifically on gender issues. For more information go to glendale.edu/Pulitzer

 

January 25, 2024

 

BOARD OF GOVERNORS RECOGNIZE GCC ETHNIC STUDIES

 

GLENDALE, CA---

Glendale Community College was among four colleges that have been honored by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors with 2023-24 Exemplary Program Awards for outstanding efforts in promoting and advancing ethnic studies programs.

The Exemplary Program Award was established by the Board of Governors in 1991 to recognize exceptional community college programs. Awards are sponsored by the Foundation for California Community Programs and are aimed at showcasing exceptional programs. The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges selects annual themes, and this year chose Excellence in Promotion and Advancement of Ethnic Studies.

“Congratulations to Chabot College, Glendale College, Mira Costa College and San Diego Mesa College for receiving the prestigious Exemplary Program Award which serves as an example to be emulated throughout the system,” said California Community College Chancellor Sonya Christian. “The programs being recognized are strengthened by faculty diversity, professional development, strong administrative support, fostering a culture of caring for students, outreach to K-12 students and so much more.”

“The faculty and ethnic studies programs being honored have worked as trailblazers and advocates, extending the impact beyond their classroom to enrich and empower communities across California,” said Cheryl Aschenbach, president of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. “The understanding of the diverse people comprising today's multi-ethnic society and their histories, cultures and values gained through ethnic studies is a necessity for all.”

GCC Ethnics Studies Department Chair Fabiola Torres said of the program, "GCC Ethnic Studies is a revolutionary department embracing innovative teaching pedagogies and cutting-edge technology. Our goal is to enrich the lives of every student at GCC by fostering inclusive learning environments rooted in social justice. As we strive to meet the diverse educational needs of our students, we recognize the eminent importance of expanding our program. Moreover, we are excited to embark on a journey into Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality platforms, offering immersive learning experiences like never before."

“We are all very grateful to Fabiola for all she has done for the college, the Ethnic Studies program, and most of all, our students. This honor is a recognition of her hard work, innovative sprit, and dedication to her profession,” said Dr. Michael Ritterbrown, GCC Vice President of Instructional Services.

The recognition summary for GCC’s award: Glendale College was among the early adopters of an ethnic studies program and its efforts are only getting even better. With a diverse faculty, ample professional training and a supportive administration fostering a culture of care for students and faculty, the Ethnic Studies Department, shortly after its founding, was offering numerous new courses such as the Latino/a Experience, the Asian American Experience, the African American Experience, the Native American Experience and the Armenian Diaspora, the latter of which is especially pertinent in a city where 40% of the population is of Armenian ancestry.

The awards were presented at the Jan. 22 Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento.

 

 

November 17, 2023 

 

GCC ARMENIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION HOLDS EVENT FOR ARTSAKH 

Fundraiser to support displaced students of Artsakh 

 

(Glendale, CA) – The Glendale Community College Armenian Student Association is holding a fundraising event in support of students that have been displaced from Artsakh. It will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the GCC Auditorium.  

Artsakh is a historically indigenous Armenian enclave that boarders Armenia and is currently located in Azerbaijan. Artsakh has suffered from a blockade of roads leading to and from Armenia, limiting food and medical supplies to the region.  

The event will feature live performances of Armenian dances, poems, songs and guest speakers. Admission is free and open to the public.  

To donate go to https://aefweb.org/gcc-stands-with-artsakh-in-crisis/. 

 

 

November 1, 2023

GARFIELD CAMPUS HOLDS OPEN HOUSE

FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK

Glendale, CA---In celebration of International Education Week (IEW), there will be an open house held at the Glendale Community College Garfield Campus on Monday, Nov. 13 from 6 to 7 p.m.

The International Students Office will provide information on becoming an international student at GCC. The presentation will be followed by a Q & A session with refreshments.  

The GCC Garfield Campus provides free courses in English as a Second Language, Business

Education, academic and career counseling services and more. The event will be held in Mariposa Building Room 304 (MP 304), 1122 East Garfield Ave, Glendale.

RSVP to the open house and find other free IEW events at www.glendale.edu/iew. For more information, contact the International Students Office at gcciso@glendale.edu. 

 

August 7, 2023

TUITION-FREE COMPUTER

CLASSES OFFERED AT GCC

 

Glendale, CA---Free computer classes are offered at the Glendale Community College Garfield Campus this fall semester including Intro to Computers, Windows, Internet, Outlook, and Word.

Continuing Education Business and Computer Classes will start on August 28 and continue through December. All classes are tuition-free and are held on the Garfield Campus, located at 1122 East Garfield Avenue in Glendale, or remotely. Computer classes continuously start with durations as short as two weeks and others longer than six weeks.

A variety of computer classes that feature Microsoft Office, QuickBooks and Peachtree programs, in addition to general computer classes such as keyboarding, integrated technology and internet, are available. Classes are offered from morning to evening.

More information on tuition-free programs can be found at glendale.edu/Garfield

 

June 21, 2023

GCC PROFESSOR EARNS AMERICAN

CHEMICAL SOCIETY TEACHING AWARD

Glendale, CA—Glendale Community College Chemistry Professor Dr. Asmik Oganesyan has been awarded the 2022-2023 Teacher-Scholar Award from the Silicon Valley Section of the American Chemical Society (SVACS.)

Oganesyan became a full-time instructor at GCC in 2008. Within the first year, she started the Organic Chemistry Independent Research program with nine aspiring students. Soon, the value of undergraduate research was recognized, and funds were granted by Title V and the GCC Foundation to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, supplies and chemicals. Since then, Oganesyan has trained over 230 students who are now pursuing careers in PhD programs and medical, dental and pharmaceutical fields. Her students presented their research outcomes at multiple local, regional and national meetings. The experience they gained while conducting research during intersessions served as invaluable learning opportunity that many of them have expanded on in their professional careers. 

In 2018, Oganesyan was awarded a GCC Academic Senate Distinguished Faculty Award for excellence in teaching and contributions to the chemistry programs.  She published a textbook, “Organic Chemistry at Your Fingertips,” which was adopted at the college and is available free of charge to the students at GCC. She is a coordinator of the Bridges to the Future program at CSULA, which gives qualified GCC students guaranteed transfer to CSULA and guidance to the nation’s most prestigious PhD programs. 

The SVACS Teacher-Scholar Award honors community college faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching, mentoring and scholarship and/or who make impactful contributions to their communities through outstanding leadership and service.

On receiving the award, Oganesyan said, “I am grateful to teach these talented students the beauty of organic chemistry. It takes a village to receive this honorable award, and I am humbled and honored to represent our college to the largest scientific community of the world.”

 

May 19, 2023 

ANNUAL GCC DISTINGUISHED  

FACULTY AWARD PRESENTED   

        

Glendale, CA—The annual Glendale Community College Distinguished Faculty Award (DFA) was presented last week to Dr. Stacy Jazán, Professor of Spanish and Faculty Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness. The award is presented by the GCC Academic Senate every spring semester.  

Jazán has been teaching Spanish at the college since 2001. For the last few years, she has also served as the Faculty Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness and is currently an Academic Senator. She has previously served as the Foreign Language Department Chair. 

On receiving the DFA, Jazán said, “I am humbled and honored to receive the Distinguished Faculty Award.  It was the very last thing I ever expected.  However, I truly think that I am a reflection of all the wonderful work and efforts at GCC.  I learn so much from everyone at GCC and now it is part of me. I thank GCC for all the amazing opportunities it has provided me over the years.” 

The Academic Senate recognizes excellence in a professor’s area of expertise. It also considers contributions to college life outside the classroom or primary service area as secondary criteria. The DFA was first conferred in 1987. The DFA committee cited Jazán’s academic rigor and creating a friendly and welcoming learning environment in the classroom. 

Recipients of the DFA present a lecture in the fall semester. Jazán is scheduled to give her presentation on October 31. 

 

May 3, 2023

GCC THEATRE ARTS PRESENTS “THE CURIOUS

INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT- TIME”

           

Glendale, CA--“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Simon Stephens and based on the novel by Mark Haddon, will be staged by the Glendale Community College Theatre Arts Department in the Auditorium Mainstage Theatre beginning Wednesday, May 17.

The recipient of The Tony Award for Best Play in 2015, the story focuses on

15-year-old Christopher. He is exceptional at mathematics, but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers. One night, Christopher stands beside his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world.

Performances are May 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m., May 20 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and May 21 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online at GCCTheatre.Ludus.com. For information go to www.glendale.edu/theatre.  The college is located at 1500 N. Verdugo Rd.

 

March 14, 2023

 

GCC ANNUAL JOB FAIR OPEN

TO STUDENTS AND PUBLIC

 

     Glendale Community College’s Annual Job Fair will be held Thursday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Plaza Vaquero. A Career Panel will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Student Center. More than 50 employers from industries ranging from tech to entertainment will be sharing information about their companies and recruiting new employees. Students, alumni and community members are invited to dress to impress and to bring their resume.

     Free parking will be available in GCC Lots B and C. For additional information visit glendale.edu/jobfair or contact Career Services at careerservices@glendale.edu.

 

February 28, 2023 

GLENDALE COLLEGE FOUNDATION RECEIVES GLA AWARD 

     The Glendale College Foundation was named Organization of the Year at the 2023 Glendale Latino Association Award Luncheon and Board Installation held February 23, 2023 at Oakmont Country Club. 

     Lisa Brooks, Executive Director of the Glendale College Foundation, and Rick Dinger, President of the Foundation Board of Directors accepted the award. “Being recognized by Glendale Latino Association as the Organization of the Year is so meaningful to the board and staff of Glendale College Foundation.  Together, over the years, we have shared the goal of helping our most vulnerable students to succeed.  We appreciate all that GLA has to help our Latinx students achieve their highest goals,” said Brooks.  

     Alfred Ramirez, GCC Administrative Dean of Continuing and Community Education, was the Keynote Speaker at the event. He said, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve our community, see students learn and grow, and participate in their success. This is what GCC is all about. It was an honor to highlight developments of the Garfield Campus, and share some of the exciting programs we offer with an organization that supports education in our community.” 

     GLA is an organization made up of diverse members committed to creating educational excellence, civic engagement, and activities that improve and contribute to the lives of Latinos in our community. GLA awards annual scholarships to deserving students pursuing their academic and professional goals, including GCC students.  

 

September 15, 2022

GCC ART GALLERY FEATURES

SOLO SHOW “POPULAR VOTE”

 

Popular Vote, a solo exhibition featuring the work of Marisa J. Futernick, opens at the Glendale Community College Art Gallery on Oct. 1.

Futernick's work explores the promise of the American Dream and calls attention to the inherent flexibility and fickleness of contemporary political discourse. Works on view include Concession, a series of site-specific photographs where the artist assumes the identity of 12 failed presidential candidates and A Catalog of American Things, an open-ended slideshow that pokes fun at the obsessive impulse to archive and market national identity. The people, places and objects featured in Futernick's work demonstrates that the distinction between center and periphery can be both artificial and arbitrary.

Popular Vote runs from October 1 through November 18. Events include a public reception with the artist on Saturday, October 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. There will also be a get-out-the-vote poster making workshop on Friday, October 21 from 12 to 3 p.m., and a panel discussion on art and civic engagement on Wednesday, November 2 from 12:20 to 1:30 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

The Art Gallery will be open Monday through Friday from 12 to 5 p.m. and is located on the third floor of the Library Building.

 

August 24, 2022 

GCC HOSTS FREE  

FILM SCREENING 

 

Glendale Community College is hosting a free screening of the documentary film “Motherland” about the conflict in Artsakh on Tuesday, August 30 in the GCC Auditorium. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the screening begins at 6 p.m. There will be a moderated Q&A after the screening. 

“Motherland” is written, produced and directed by Los Angeles-based Armenian American journalist and activist Vic Gerami. The film won Best International Documentary and Best First Time Feature Filmmaker awards from the Toronto Independent Film Festival. 

The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available on campus in the parking structure and in the city lot across the pedestrian bridge on Verdugo Rd. For more information about the film go to Motherland.

  

March 18, 2022

GCC ART GALLERY EXHIBIT

FEATURES GUEST ARTIST

The Glendale Community College Art Gallery is presenting “Curate/Cure Hate: Fairytales, Flashbacks and Collages in a Box,” an exhibition of the work of Dwora Fried, opening Saturday, March 19 with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m.

Dwora Fried is an LA-based assemblage artist whose work deals with themes of gender, identity and political trauma.  

The show runs March 19 through April 29.  The Art Gallery @ GCC is located on the third floor of the Library Building. Free parking is available in Lot B off of Mountain St.

The event is free and open to the public.  Proof of vaccination and masks are required. For more information go to glendale.edu/artgallery. 

 

November 15, 2021

ACCLAIMED AUTHOR 

GIVES READING AT GCC

 

The Los Angeles Writers Reading Series at Glendale Community College presents a reading by award-winning author Jervey Tervalon on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 12:20 p.m. live on Crowdcast. A short Q&A will follow. Reservations can be made for the free event at urlwee.com/jervey.       

Tervalon is an award-winning screenwriter and dramatist who was born in New Orleans and raised in Los Angeles and received his MFA in Creative Writing from UC Irvine. He is the author of six books, including “Understand This,” for which he won the Quality Paper Book Club’s New Voices Award, and the Los Angeles Times bestseller “Dead Above Ground.”

Currently he is Creative Director of The Pasadena LitFest, a festival he co-founded with the legendary Pulitzer Prize winning food writer, Jonathan Gold. He is a member of the College of Creative Studies faculty at UC Santa Barbara.

Tervalon’s novel, ”Understand This,” about young people in South Central Los Angeles, grows out of his experience teaching in a high school there and his pain at the death of one of his favorite students.

The ongoing Los Angeles Writers Reading Series, now in its 12^th year, is coordinated by GCC English instructor Claire Phillips to celebrate local writers and to give students access to literary events where they can meet and talk with authors who wrote some of the material used in their English classes.  Previous speakers include Anne Boyer, Janet Fitch, Aimee Bender, Bernard Cooper, David L. Ulin and James Ellroy.  For additional information contact Claire Phillips at clairephillips11@gmail.com.  

 

GCC PARTNERS WITH THE PULITZER

CENTER FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

June 29, 2021

Glendale Community College has become a partner in the Pulitzer Center Campus Consortium.  Starting in the fall semester, the Pulitzer Center will work with the journalism and history departments at GCC to facilitate a vibrant and comprehensive educational program to support students reporting specifically on gender issues. GCC is the only community college in the state of California offering this opportunity to students, and is one of the only campuses nationwide that will be focusing on reporting on gender.

The program will be coordinated by GCC history instructor Michelle Stonis and journalism instructor Dr. Reut Cohen Schorr.  “Representation matters, especially when it comes to reporting on gender around the world. The new Pulitzer Center campus consortium at GCC is committed to guiding the next generation of journalists, researchers, thinkers, and writers as they learn to ask new questions in an attempt to bring diverse stories to the forefront,” said Stonis. Cohen added, “When people think about reporting on gender, they often think about it through their own specific lens. Gender, however, is broad and encompasses many issues ranging from culture to representation. Our GCC Pulitzer Center Campus Consortium will provide students with the tools and resources to examine reporting topics that directly affect them and their community.”

The Pulitzer Center will contribute to both the student community and the Los Angeles region by bringing award-winning journalists to campus for public programs. The Pulitzer Center will offer a reporting fellowship to one outstanding student who can report on any topic involving gender from a location of their choice. As a Campus Consortium partner, GCC students will have the benefit of professional development opportunities and mentorship from seasoned journalists.

The Campus Consortium is a network of partnerships between the Pulitzer Center and colleges and universities to engage with students and faculty on critical global issues.

For information on the program and how to enroll contact the GCC Social Sciences Division at socialsciences@glendale.edu.  

 

February 18, 2021

Remote Instruction to Continue Through 2021 Fall Semester

(Glendale, Ca) – Glendale Community College (GCC) announced today that due to the COVID-19 pandemic remote instruction will continue on all three campuses through December 2021.

GCC classes have been taught in a remote learning environment since March 23, 2020, following the outbreak of the coronavirus. Today’s decision affects the Verdugo Campus which primarily serves credit students, the Garfield Campus serving noncredit students, and the Professional Development Center in Montrose.  

“Although there has been encouraging progress in the nationwide vaccination effort, we are a long way from reaching the point where we can safely bring students back to our campuses,” said college president Dr. David Viar. “The well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and community is our number one priority.”

The college is making today’s announcement several months before the start of summer and fall classes to allow students time to make informed decisions about their educational goals. Priority registration begins April 26 for the 2021 summer session (June 14 – August 20, 2021) and priority registration is May 17 for the fall semester (August 30 – December 15, 2021).

Click here to read the letter from Dr. Viar to all students explaining the decision to continue remote instruction

https://www.glendale.edu/students/student-services/health-center/what-you-need-to-know