1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
602–285–7500

President Gardea Honored by Asian-Pacific Islander Community

Phoenix College President, Dr. Corina Gardea was officially welcomed by leaders of the Valley's Asian-Pacific Islander community at a campus reception last evening. The ceremony was hosted by the Asian Chamber of Commerce and attracted some 150 guests representing the Chinese, Vietnamese, Hawaiians, Filipino, Korean, Japanese American, Hispanic, African American, Indonesian, Singaporean and Thai communities of Phoenix.

Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor, Dr. Fred Gaskin also attended, as did all five Governing Board members (Dr. Donald Campbell, Mr. Ed Contreras, Mr. Gene Eastin, Mrs. Linda B. Rosenthal and Ms. Nancy Stein), former State Rep. Barry Wong, former Peoria Mayor Edmund Tang and Maricopa Foundation Board members Jim Shee, Ted Namba and Madeline Ong-Sakata. Dr. Gaskin introduced the Board members identifying the number of years they have contributed to Maricopa and pointed out that Asian-Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing segment of Maricopa's enrollment in terms of percentage growth.

Guests dined on Asian cuisine prepared by local restaurants and were entertained by Lion Dancers, Taiko drummers and a Hawaiian dancer. Mistress of Ceremonies Madeline Ong-Sakata informed attendees that the performers were "driving away bad spirits and welcoming good spirits" to make Dr. Gardea's tenure at Phoenix College a positive experience.

College Dean of Instruction Marian Tadano introduced Dr. Gardea to the assembly, encouraging them to get to know the college president and to seek new avenues of partnership and cooperation with Phoenix College. Tadano pointed out several in the audience who attended Phoenix College in the days when it was the only two-year college in Phoenix, including Edmund Tang and Asian Chamber President Rocky Tang.

In her remarks, Pres. Gardea thanked the Asian-Pacific Islander Association and the communities they represent for the warm welcome and encouragement. She echoed Dean Tadano's invitation to widen doors of communication between the college and the APIA community, citing one of the college's seven strategic initiatives as "strengthening partnerships with business and community."