Whereas, The bylaws of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) include procedures and criteria for conferring the status of Senator Emeritus for the purpose of recognizing the meritorious service of a faculty member upon or after retirement, and Mayra Cruz has satisfied those requirements as a faculty member of the California community colleges, as her service includes three years on ASCCC Executive Committee, six years as the De Anza College Academic Senate President, two years as the Foothill De Anza District Academic Senate President, three years as Career and Technical Education Faculty Liaison, and many years as a member of numerous ASCCC and Foothill-De Anza Community College District committees, collectively well exceeding the required five years of significant service to the ASCCC;
Whereas, Mayra Cruz bravely and brilliantly represented the faculty voice leading the way in anti-racism and diversification work in multiple committees and task forces, such as the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup, the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Equity and Diversity Action Committee, and California Community College Curriculum Committee (5C), in addition to spearheading regional faculty diversification meetings and the writing of many equity-minded Rostrum articles and the writing of the ASCCC Anti-racism Education in the California Community Colleges paper and the Equity-Driven Systems: Student Equity and Achievement in the California Community Colleges paper, and, in mentoring and unconditionally giving her love, support, and wisdom to many faculty, students, and staff throughout California and nationally, is considered by many as the ultimate equity elder who leads with cultural humility;
Whereas, Mayra Cruz has spent over 32 years advancing her academic discipline of early childhood education through her service on several statewide and local level early childhood education groups and nonprofit organizations, as well as in her seven years as De Anza College Child Development Department Chair; and
Whereas, Mayra Cruz was a leader in fostering civic engagement and student agency and voice in the California community colleges in her time as the founding co-director of the Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action (VIDA), formerly known as the Institute for Community and Civic Engagement (ICCE) at De Anza College, and she continues to impact civic and community leadership in the Latinx and Asian American Pacific Islander communities of the Silicon Valley area in her role as faculty for the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute (APALI) Civic Leadership Program;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges recognize Mayra Cruz’ extraordinary and distinguished service by awarding her the status of Senator Emeritus with all rights and privileges thereof; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges convey to Mayra Cruz its heartfelt congratulations on her retirement and wish her every happiness and many joyous years of sunny beach time in her beloved Puerto Rico and elsewhere, dancing and enjoying music and time with her family and many friends.
ACCLAMATION