President's Office
President's Message: January 21, 2026
January 21, 2026
(1) Join the Launch Party for 海角社区鈥檚 Blueprint for Success!
Jan. 28 | noon鈥1:30 p.m. | Dining Hall
Food, music, inspiration, and a shared vision for our future鈥攖辞驳别迟丑别谤.
Get ready for a 90-minute experience that blends storytelling, performance, and campus energy as we unveil 海角社区鈥檚 Blueprint for Success鈥攐ur strategic plan through the year 2030. You鈥檝e seen plans before鈥攏ow hear how we鈥檒l bring ours to life.
What to Expect:
A High-Energy Kickoff (noon鈥12:05 p.m.)
Music and a lively welcome from Presidents Vanessa Santillan-Nieto, Kayla Nguyen,
and Voltaire Villanueva.
Boxed lunches to grab鈥攆ree!
Mini-Keynote: Two Transformative Goals (12:05鈥12:25 p.m.)
One student鈥檚 powerful story and a vivid look ahead to 2030.
Performance: Love, Not Luck (12:25鈥12:30 p.m.)
A dynamic interlude by Oneself DaVinci that embodies the power of purpose and connection.
Stories of Impact from the Vice Presidents (12:30鈥1 p.m.)
Four 鈥渃hapters鈥 come alive as our vice presidents share what transformation looks
like鈥攆rom student belonging to innovative partnerships and the reimagined Sunnyvale
Center.
Interactive Break: Name That Love Song! (1鈥1:10 p.m.)
A fast-paced, DJ-led music challenge with prizes and laughter.
Bringing It to Life: The Next Steps to 2030 (1:10鈥1:20 p.m.)
See and hear how every team and department connects to the Blueprint through engaging
walk-around activities, real project examples, and a first look at our new progress
dashboards.
The Whitney Houston Challenge! Audience volunteers will try to match the beat to an iconic love song.
This isn鈥檛 about paper鈥攊t鈥檚 about people.
Come celebrate, connect, and see your role in shaping Foothill鈥檚 next chapter.
Let鈥檚 launch our Blueprint for Success鈥攖辞驳别迟丑别谤.
(2) ICYMI: The MIPC Minute
The Mission Informed Planning Council (MIPC) is exploring new and better ways to communicate governance work in progress. The MIPC Minute is one such effort. If you have a minute (or two), please view this brief summary of key decisions from the Fall 2025 MIPC sessions:
The first MIPC meeting of the Winter quarter took place last Friday. We鈥檙e currently soliciting agenda items for the Feb. 6 Mission Informed Planning Council meeting. If you鈥檇 like an item to be considered, please submit your request here.
(3) Last Day of Physical Bookstore 鈥 March 5
As noted in the MIPC Minute, but worth repeating: After a yearlong, deliberative process, we made the decision this fall to move bookstore services fully online.
The last day for on-ground bookstore operations is March 5. All services will transition fully online, with frequently purchased instructional supplies (e.g., blue books) available at the Welcome Center.
(4) Winter Convocation, Featuring Foothill鈥檚 Poet Laureate
Jan. 27, 2026 | 12:15鈥2 p.m.
The Experience Foothill campaign continues to support experiential learning opportunities, including our inaugural Poet Laureate program. We all need artistic nourishment during these turbulent times鈥攑lease join the Language Arts and Ethnic Studies Division for Winter Convocation: The Power of Poetry in Community, a special campus event featuring Foothill鈥檚 first Poet Laureate, Marvin Flores Hernandez.
鈥淲hen poetry is placed within a community, it does more than reinforce that community鈥攊t
empowers us to take agency over our lives. It pushes us to listen and absorb in a
world filled with so much noise.鈥
鈥擬arvin Flores Hernandez
Event Agenda
12:15 p.m.: Smithwick Courtyard for light refreshments
1鈥2 p.m.: Opening remarks and poetry performance, joined by special guest musicians,
in Appreciation Hall (1501)
(5) Public Speaking & Storytelling Series
Jan. 27, 2026 | 3:30鈥4:30 p.m.
Writing and Language Center (3603)
The leadership of the Classified Senate has put together a robust set of professional development opportunities for the campus. As a former Communication Studies professor, I have to highlight this gem:
Public Speaking with Professor Anju Vriksha and the award-winning 海角社区 Speech and Debate Team. Enhance your public speaking skills for both academic and non-academic settings with expert guidance.
Learn practical tools, proven frameworks, and effective strategies to organize your speeches, build confidence, and communicate with impact. Enjoy open practice time and receive live, supportive feedback in a casual and encouraging environment.
Yours in service,
Kristina
Dr. Kristina Whalen
President, 海角社区