Commission Members | Commission Staff

Commission Members

Ms. Lurelean Gaines, Chair

Professor Gaines is chair of the Department of Nursing at East Los Angeles College. She has also served as the college's Accreditation Liaison Officer. Professor Gaines began Commission service on July 1, 2001.

Mr. Floyd K. Takeuchi, Vice Chair

Mr. Takeuchi is a public member. He is President and Chief Operating Officer of TransOceanic Media located in Honolulu Hawai`i.  Mr. Takeuchi's service on the Commission began on July 1, 2003.

Dr. Sherrill Amador

Dr. Amador is a public member. Dr. Amador recently retired as President/Superintendent of Palomar College. Dr. Amador began her service on the Commission on July 1, 2004.

Ms. Holly Beernink

Dr. Beernink is the Director of Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer at Western Career College in Sacramento. Dr. Beernink began her term on the Commission on July 1, 2005.

Mr. Steve Bruckman

Mr. Bruckman was selected to represent the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office where he serves as Interim Executive Vice Chancellor/General Council. Mr. Bruckman began his term on the Commission on July 1, 2005.

Ms. Christina L. Dyer

Ms. Dyer was appointed to represent the Schools Commission of WASC. An attorney in private practice, she has broad experience in education and accreditation, having served as counsel to school districts as well as having had experience as a teacher. She began her service on the Commission on July 1, 2004.

Ms. Tess Hansen

Ms. Hansen is a member of the English faculty at Foothill College. She began her service on the Commission on July 1, 2003.

Dr. E. Jan Kehoe

Dr. Kehoe is the former President of the Community College Leadership Development Initiatives Foundation (CCLDIF) at the University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences.  She is also the former Superintendent/President of Long Beach City College and Merced College. Dr. Kehoe's term on the Commission began on July 1, 2001.

Dr. Louanne Kennedy

Dr. Kennedy was appointed to represent the Accreditation Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of WASC. She is currently a consultant to private and public colleges and universities on issues of academic planning, management of academic and student services, management evaluation, and regional accreditation. She is the Emeritus Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the California State University , Northridge. Dr. Kennedy began her service on the Commission on July 1, 2005.

Ms. Carol Liu

As a former member of the California State Assembly serving from 2000 to 2006,  Ms. Liu chaired the Assembly's Higher Education Committee, the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, and the Select Committee on Adult Education.  As an eight-year member of the La Canada/Flintridge City Council, she twice served as Mayor, in 1996 and 1999.  Ms. Liu currently serves as chair of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education Advisory Board and as a member of the Claremont University Consortium Board of Overseers.  Ms. Liu began her service on the Commission July 1, 2007.

Dr. Christopher McCarthy

Dr. McCarthy is currently the Superintendent/President of Napa Valley College.  He has held that position since
2002.  Previously, he served six years as the Executive Vice President of Instructional Services at Glendale Community College and 14 years in various positions including Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of English.  Dr. McCarthy's  service on the Commission began July 1, 2007.

Dr. Victoria P. Morrow

Dr. Morrow is President of Skyline College. Dr. Morrow previously represented the California Community College Chancellor's Office where she served as Executive Vice Chancellor for Educational Services and Economic Development. Dr. Morrow began her service on the Commission on June 1, 2002.

Dr. John S. Nixon

Dr. John S. Nixon is the President/CEO of Mt. San Antonio College.  Dr. Nixon started his tenure at the College in 2004 as Vice President of Instruction.  Dr. Nixon previously served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Santa Ana College for 12 years.  He also served for a year as Santa Ana’s Interim President in 1998.  Dr. Nixon taught English and English as a Second Language at USC, and at UC Irvine, Santiago Canyon College, and Irvine Valley College.  Dr. Nixon’s service on the Commission began on July 1, 2008.

Mr. Michael Rota

Mr. Rota was appointed to represent the seven community colleges of the University of Hawai`i. He is currently the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs (Community Colleges) and Professor, University of Hawai`i System. Mr. Rota began service on the Commission on July 1, 2004.

Dr. Marie Smith

Dr. Smith is the recently retired Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology of the Los Rios Community College District.  Prior to that position, Dr. Smith served as the President of American River College and as the President of the College of Alameda.  Dr. Smith's service on the Commission began July 1, 2007.

Ms. Elieene Tejada

Ms. Tejada is Professor of Language and Developmental Studies at Napa Valley College since 2004.
She is also the Director of Teaching and Learning Resource Center.  Ms. Tejada was previously an Adjunct English Instructor at Chabot College.  Ms. Tejada's service on the Commission began July 1, 2006.

Ms. Margaret Tillery

Ms. Tillery is a faculty member at Allan Hancock College where she is a learning disabilities specialist. Ms. Tillery has served as Accreditation Liaison Officer of her institution. Ms. Tillery began service on the Commission on July 1, 2004.

Dr. Norval Wellsfry

Dr. Wellsfry is a faculty member who teaches computer information science and accounting at Cosumnes River College. Dr. Wellsfry's Commission service began on July 1, 2004.