Oxnard College student Ashley M. Gonzales. Courtesy photo.
CAMARILLO — Oxnard College student Ashley M. Gonzales has joined the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees as the Student Trustee for the 2020-21 academic year. Gonzales was selected through a districtwide student election in April and installed at the June 16 board meeting. She joins the elected board comprised of Chair Bernardo M. Perez, Vice Chair Josh Chancer, and Trustees Dianne McKay, Larry Kennedy and Gabriela Torres.
As the Student Trustee, Gonzales will attend the Board of Trustees’ monthly meetings, representing the district’s approximately 32,000 students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges. She will study issues facing the board to provide advisory recommendations in all matters, especially those related to students. She will also attend conferences for professional development and help advocate for the district at the state and national level.
“Being a student trustee is an exciting, demanding and responsible position,” said Chair Perez. “Ashley is a dedicated, passionate leader who will provide a fresh and insightful student perspective.”
“Ashley seeks new challenges and is an inspirational, responsible leader,” added Trustee Torres, who represents the greater Oxnard area. “I am confident in her ability to connect with students and provide valuable information on how we can deliver the best community college experience for our students.”
Majoring in psychology and criminology, Gonzales aspires to be a behavioral analyst for the FBI. She takes classes at all three VCCCD colleges, which provides her an understanding of each campus’s unique culture and student initiatives. In addition to her studies, she is employed at Oxnard College as a greeter in the library connecting students with tutors. During the 2019-20 academic year, Gonzales served as secretary of the college’s Associated Student Government.
Gonzales campaigned with a compassionate and powerful agenda, focusing on student advocacy and representation. She hopes to motivate students and shine a light on the many cultures of VCCCD’s campuses by using her point of view as a student.
“What I value most is ensuring that the students’ voices are heard,” she said. “As the Student Trustee, I will be your voice, your SHERO, and make sure I represent your student perspective this upcoming year.”
About Ventura County Community College District
The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 115-campus California Community College system, and serves more than 32,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges–Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura–offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit vcccd.edu