College District appoints vice chancellor

 Sahar Abushaban, a veteran administrator with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, has received permanent appointment as Vice Chancellor-Business Services following a two-year interim term.

Her selection to the post, announced by Chancellor Lynn Neault, is effective Nov. 1.

Abushaban brings to the role substantial experience in public education budgeting and administration, including 15 years with the college district. She first began at the district in 2006 as a financial analyst, and went on to serve as Interim Director of District Business Services. She was appointed Associate Vice Chancellor-Business Services in 2011. She then served as Vice President of Administrative Services at Cuyamaca College for five years before returning to District Services.

A community college alumna, Abushaban then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from San Diego State University and a master’s in accountancy from National University.

Colleges join for Undocumented Student Action Week

 

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, acclaimed filmmaker and immigration advocate Jose Antonio Vargas will be a featured speaker as Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges mark Undocumented Student Action Week.

The week of online events are part of a campaign by community colleges across California to advocate and provide resources for the undocumented student population. Highlighting the week is Vargas’ presentation, “Defining American,” set for 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct 2. To receive a Zoom link to attend, submit an RSVP for the free, public event at https://bit.ly/JoseAntonioVargas_102121.

Vargas’ presentation is an online event sponsored jointly by San Diego County community colleges and the San Diego Community College District.

Career Expo's virtual platform next best thing to being there

 Grossmont College’s 43^rd annual Career Expo will be virtual again this year to avoid the crush of attendees the popular event typically draws, but organizers are making the online environment as interactive as they can.

Grossmont College, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, and
the East County Chamber of Commerce will host the free, public event 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Students, alumni, job- and career- seekers can register at https://tinyurl.com/VirtualCareerExpo2021. Employers can register for free at https://tinyurl.com/5ctu4xyb. A Remo login will be emailed upon registration.

Grossmont Symphony Orchestra to debut in its new home

The vagabond years of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale draw to a close with its first performance in its new home Thursday night at the new Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Center (PVAC).

The 70-member orchestra and 40-member choral ensemble composed of students, teachers and musicians from the community have played since the ‘80s off campus, first at the former East County Performing Arts Center in El Cajon until 2009, then the First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon, Santa Sophia Catholic Church in Spring Valley and St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Lemon Grove.

The program, which begins at 7:30 p.m., includes separate performances of the symphony’s brass and percussion, woodwind and string ensembles; the Master Chorale; and a multimedia performance of the chamber orchestra. In pre-pandemic times, the ensembles performed as one large orchestra, but because of Grossmont College’s COVID-19 protocols limiting the numbers of people in one room, Thursday’s performance will be broken up with each ensemble giving its own mini-concert.

“This 390-seat venue has been a part of the original blueprint for Grossmont College from the earliest years,” said music director Randall Tweed, who has been at GSO’s helm for 35 years. “It has been a long, arduous road. This new facility is a huge step up and being able to return for in-person rehearsals, even with social distancing and masking, has been great.”

Colleges ready for in-person arts performances

GSO rehearsal

After more than a year and a half of performances and presentations over Zoom and YouTube, the arts are returning in person to Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.

Kicking off Grossmont College’s fall concert series is the Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. performance of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale, which finally has a venue of its own at the newly opened Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Center (PVAC). This, after decades of playing in places such as the former East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) in El Cajon, and several churches throughout East County.