Last week, Dr. Edel Alonso declared her candidacy for the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees in front of a crowd of over 100 supporters at the Valencia Summit Club House.

Having spent 16 years as a faculty member at College of the Canyons, or COC, she decided she would like to continue to serve in this new capacity. Dr. Alonso and her husband, Charlie Armstrong, are residents of Trustee Area 2 which is up for election in November. This is the position she will be seeking.

Dr. Alonso began her educational career in Santa Clarita in 1988. Her long – time colleague and campaign manager, Peggy Stabile, said, “Professionally, Edel knows our valley and its students intimately. As a counselor at both Hart and Valencia High Schools, and then at COC, Edel has guided thousands of students in attaining their post-secondary goals.

Personally, she is a woman of great integrity and a leader who has the interests of those whom she serves at heart. After careful deliberation of all situations, she favors collaboration when seeking solutions.”

During her tenure at COC, Dr. Alonso was elected Counseling Department chair, a position she held for six years. Additionally, she served four years as president of the Faculty Academic Senate and co-chaired the President’s Advisory Committee on Budget. In each of these positions she worked closely with staff, administration, and the Board of Trustees.

“I believe that COC is an amazing college. It offers superb educational programs and services, has a dedicated, talented and hard-working faculty and staff, and visionary leadership. But there are some areas that need attention,” said Alonso. “I know the ins and outs of COC up close and personal. I was disheartened when I saw hundreds of thousands of dollars, which grew to over a million, spent on legal fees and settlements for lawsuits that should never have happened.

She expressed a desire for change to help students.

“It was devastating to see so many students placed on waiting lists year after year, delaying their graduation or transfer because moneys that should have been spent on new science laboratories were spent elsewhere,” she said. “If elected, I will advocate televising each Board meeting on SCV-TV so that the community can see their elected officials at work. I can assure our community that on every decision, whether fiscal or legal, I will always ask questions in public, advocate for public input, and consider what is in the best interests of the students, first and foremost.”

To learn more about Edel Alonso, click here.

Ed. Note: This is a news release from Dr. Edel Alonso.