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Stephanie Ortiz is the new executive dean at Sierra College's Nevada County campus, shown in the background.
When classes at Sierra College's Nevada County campus resume Aug. 31, students should expect to see plenty of new places and faces, including the woman who now leads the campus as executive dean.
Stephanie Ortiz comes to Litton Hill in Grass Valley after spending nearly two decades at the larger Rocklin campus.
If the 47-year-old flagship of Sierra Community College is a middle-aged parent, then the Nevada County campus, it could be argued, is a wide-eyed adolescent, full of potential in the middle of a growth spurt.
It's Ortiz's turn to help the campus mature.
“These campuses are growing and coming into their own. It's very exciting and the future looks very, very bright for the students who choose to get an education here,” Ortiz said.
The campus is in the midst of major renovation and new construction.
Ortiz replaces Dean Neal Allbee, who retired June 30. She is the Nevada County campus' third leader since it opened in 1996. She had been an instructional dean at Rocklin.
Coming to Nevada County gives Ortiz a chance to take a more active role at a smaller campus. While more than 20,000 students take classes in Rocklin, about 5,300 students take at least one class at the Nevada County campus.
It also is home to Ghidotti Early College High School, where students can enroll concurrently in college classes.
Ortiz comes to Nevada County with a background in business, having worked in the private sector in human resources, and has years of teaching business classes at the college level.
Ortiz grew up in Southern California, moved to Long Island and returned to California, where she taught for 20 years at California State University, Fresno, Mount San Antonio Junior College and Sierra College. Her husband is an art instructor at Sierra's Rocklin campus. The couple live in Applegate.
She also has worked in human resources at the Fresno Bee newspaper, but she chose education when she came to a crossroads: Either work in the public sector or teach, she said.
She started at Sierra College in 1991.
“Teaching college was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “Don't get me near a white board.”
Despite budget challenges facing the state's more than 100 community colleges, Ortiz plans to focus on giving local students more class options so they can complete associates degrees without having to go to Rocklin.
She also advocates increased broadband access so students can take more classes online.
“I'm looking forward to the day when our students have more opportunities via secure and reliable Internet connectivity,” she said.
The Sierra College Foundation recently announced the completion of a fundraising drive to provide wireless access to every campus in the college district.
Ortiz plans to move to Nevada County and be a visible presence on campus for students who are signing up for fall classes, navigating past huge dirt piles and chain-link fences. The campus is growing, to be sure, and Ortiz believes she's come at the right time to help it grow up.
“We're going to have a great year, and I'm really looking forward to this.”
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.
Stephanie Ortiz comes to Litton Hill in Grass Valley after spending nearly two decades at the larger Rocklin campus.
If the 47-year-old flagship of Sierra Community College is a middle-aged parent, then the Nevada County campus, it could be argued, is a wide-eyed adolescent, full of potential in the middle of a growth spurt.
It's Ortiz's turn to help the campus mature.
“These campuses are growing and coming into their own. It's very exciting and the future looks very, very bright for the students who choose to get an education here,” Ortiz said.
The campus is in the midst of major renovation and new construction.
Ortiz replaces Dean Neal Allbee, who retired June 30. She is the Nevada County campus' third leader since it opened in 1996. She had been an instructional dean at Rocklin.
Coming to Nevada County gives Ortiz a chance to take a more active role at a smaller campus. While more than 20,000 students take classes in Rocklin, about 5,300 students take at least one class at the Nevada County campus.
It also is home to Ghidotti Early College High School, where students can enroll concurrently in college classes.
Ortiz comes to Nevada County with a background in business, having worked in the private sector in human resources, and has years of teaching business classes at the college level.
Ortiz grew up in Southern California, moved to Long Island and returned to California, where she taught for 20 years at California State University, Fresno, Mount San Antonio Junior College and Sierra College. Her husband is an art instructor at Sierra's Rocklin campus. The couple live in Applegate.
She also has worked in human resources at the Fresno Bee newspaper, but she chose education when she came to a crossroads: Either work in the public sector or teach, she said.
She started at Sierra College in 1991.
“Teaching college was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “Don't get me near a white board.”
Despite budget challenges facing the state's more than 100 community colleges, Ortiz plans to focus on giving local students more class options so they can complete associates degrees without having to go to Rocklin.
She also advocates increased broadband access so students can take more classes online.
“I'm looking forward to the day when our students have more opportunities via secure and reliable Internet connectivity,” she said.
The Sierra College Foundation recently announced the completion of a fundraising drive to provide wireless access to every campus in the college district.
Ortiz plans to move to Nevada County and be a visible presence on campus for students who are signing up for fall classes, navigating past huge dirt piles and chain-link fences. The campus is growing, to be sure, and Ortiz believes she's come at the right time to help it grow up.
“We're going to have a great year, and I'm really looking forward to this.”
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.
