SEPTEMBER 2021

Vol. 5

Introducing BC’s New Interim President: Dr. Zav Dadabhoy

When the excitement calmed after Dr. Sonya Christian moved from President of Bakersfield College to Chancellor of the Kern Community College District, the question remained:  Who would be selected to lead BC?  The campus community, in particular, was anxious to know that BC’s many emerging initiatives would continue, full speed ahead.

When Dr. Zav Dadabhoy was announced Interim President, he indeed enjoyed much support from the campus community.  Dr. Dadabhoy had served as Vice President of Student Affairs at BC since 2012 and has been responsible for financial aid, counseling, athletics, and other functions that directly impact student success. 

Dr. Dadabhoy brings a variety of experience to the position.  In fact, a career in higher education was not his original plan.  “In my first career, I worked as a public accountant in England. I came to the U.S. in 1982, to study Organizational Behavior, and that evolved into a career in higher education,” he said.    

In the following years, Dr. Dadabhoy worked as faculty and/or administrator at other large colleges in Wisconsin, Virginia, and Colorado.

Bakersfield College, though, has proven to be the best place he has worked.  “And that’s an understatement,” he said.  “From the very first day, it was obvious the faculty and staff were proud of being part of the Renegade family, cared for students’ success, and worked hard.  The energy was palpable!”

Today, Dr. Dadabhoy appreciates the opportunity to also serve on the BC Foundation’s Board of Directors.  He said he has always seen how the community feels proud of their connection to the college.  

“BC is Bakersfield, and it really is the community’s college.  That is a relationship that must be nurtured and cherished.”

But life is about more than work, and Dr. Dadabhoy enjoys his time with family.  “My wife Dr. Khushnur Dadabhoy and my two adult daughters keep me grounded and centered. Khushnur is a successful administrator at a college nearby.  All four of us enjoy vacationing together (Mexico is our favorite destination) and we are huge fans of the Green Bay Packers!”

Congratulations on your new position, Dr. Dadabhoy! The BC Foundation team is excited to be working with you for the good of our students!

From the Executive Director

Bakersfield College is alive with a type of energy that has been largely absent for more than a year:  students on campus!  I’ve been looking forward to this since I started at the BC Foundation in July of 2020, and I’m most definitely not the only person who has been waiting for this moment!

I ran into a new student recently as he was finding his way around campus.  He was new to Bakersfield, coming here from San Bernardino.  He was excited to get started, and I was proud to welcome him to BC (and also to Bakersfield in general)!  Most of the students I have encountered are so friendly and positive; it’s obvious they are ready to get back into the classroom.

Update on BC Athletics

As the new academic year begins, BC sports fans will have lots of opportunities to show your Renegade pride!  Mark your calendar for the Football Home Opener on Saturday, September 11 against El Camino.  Kick-off is at 6:00 p.m.  If you’ve been itching to get out and show your support, you can find all our sports teams’ schedules at gogades.  By the way, my favorite part of the athletics department’s website is all the photos and features on our athletes. The Foundation is proud to help our community support these scholar-athletes through our many funds that are designated for athletics.

Donor Intent—It’s Up to You

Lately, I’ve had the chance to work with a BC supporter (and now I count her as a dear friend) who wanted to identify the perfect place to direct an estate gift to BC.  What a joy, to help people learn about what’s happening on campus, and to watch them consider exactly how they can best impact students through scholarships and/or the College’s programming.  Our job at the BC Foundation is to inform donors of the opportunities, then to be good stewards of their donations by ensuring that their intent is honored.  We take that job seriously.  If you’d like to learn more about how you can help our students succeed, please give me a call at (661) 395-4840.

Alumni Association on the Move

Finally, the BC Alumni Association board of directors is looking for a few new people to join their board.  If you’d like to be considered, or perhaps share your BC story, visit the Alumni Association page.

Wishing you all the best—Happy Fall!

Cheryl

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 19,^, 2022, when the BC Foundation will honor some of Bakersfield College’s most generous supporters at our 14^th Annual Sterling Silver. 

BC’s brand-new event center, crown jewel of KCCD’s Measure J bond project, will be the site of the reception and dinner.  The spectacular new venue spans the third floor of the new Campus Center and will be the ideal setting for recognizing community members whose support is bringing to life many of BC’s new programs and campus improvements.

Honorees include:

• The Contreras Family, Individual Philanthropist Award–By joining together with family members, the Contreras’ have provided scholarships to hundreds of BC students.
• Bank of America, Corporate Philanthropist Award—Bank of America supports some of BC’s  newest programs, including Early College, with added emphasis on connecting students with internships and long-term employment opportunities.
• Assemblymember Rudy Salas, BC Foundation Service Medal—Assemblymember Salas is a tremendous champion of higher education and has stewarded millions of dollars to BC, allowing expansion in health care education programming and more.
• Congressman William “Bill” Thomas, Lifetime Achievement Award—RetiredCongressman Bill Thomas has strong ties to Bakersfield College, dating back to his nine years as professor of history and political science, beginning in 1965, plus another two years as a member of the KCCD Board of Trustees beginning in 2018.  He was instrumental in securing funds to modernize the planetarium (now named in his honor) and he chaired the $503 million Yes on Measure J committee in 2016, leading to approval of the bond which is transforming BC’s facilities throughout the county.

We hope you will join us for this special evening!  Individual tickets are $200, and a table of eight costs $1,500. Proceeds benefit Bakersfield College’s scholarship program.  For sponsorship details, call 661-395-4800 or visit supportbc.org.

Renegade Innovation Fund Brings Life to Unique Campus Projects

Thanks to the BC Foundation’s Renegade Innovation Fund, many otherwise unfeasible projects on campus are brought to life.  The fund was established in 2014 when the Foundation Board of Directors saw that strong earnings on endowments had left the Foundation in a position to provide new and unique assistance to the campus.

Faculty and staff are invited to apply for the Renegade Innovation Fund, which has offered $100,000 each year since its inception.  Applications are considered by the Board of Directors, with emphasis on innovative projects that promote student success.  Not only does the fund breathe life into projects, it gives the Board of Directors the opportunity to have a more active role in supporting programs on campus.

The Foundation wrapped up the 2020-21 academic year by awarding support to the following recipients:

UMOJA Health Career Prep Academy

The UMOJA program was awarded funding to cover Phase II of an academy designed to increase the number of African American students in BC’s nursing program and in the nursing field.  Funds will be used for student scholarships, transportation costs, and scrubs.  Students will also have the opportunity to sit in on skills lab at Dignity Health, plus shadow BC Nursing Faculty.

Agriculture Outreach and Recruitment Trailer

The Agriculture Department was awarded funds to repair their “Renegade Ranch” 5^th wheel trailer for use at outreach and recruitment events on and off-campus.  The 12-year-old trailer will be fitted with new tires and battery, the interior will be repaired and audio-visual equipment will be added, and the exterior of the trailer will be wrapped in a vinyl decal.

Golden Empire Drum & Bugle Corps

The Drum & Bugle Corps was awarded funding to support a summer workshop for high school students and young adults interested in marching arts.

BC Chamber Singers

The pandemic created a painful time of separation for the BC Chamber Singers.  With an eye toward reinvigorating the students and the program for the coming year, the Chamber Singers were awarded funds to support a summer retreat for incoming and returning students. 

Summer STEM Academy

A Summer STEM Academy was funded to introduce students to a STEM environment, to help them with study skills, to enhance a sense of STEM belonging, and to create a more vibrant STEM culture at BC.

Panorama Feature: Your BC Story

In every issue of PANORAMA we highlight proud BC alums. You can share “Your Story” in our next issue of PANORAMA.

Amy Travis – BC Class of 2012

My story began with the faith and hope that I could change my future. I needed hope that things could be different. No one in my family had gone before me, so I did not know for sure if I would succeed, but I was willing to give it all I had. After a few classes, my confidence grew and so did the size of my dreams. I had a paradigm shift. I quickly realized that the time I spent invested in my education would reap great benefits one day. I am still proud of the day I received my Associate of Arts in Communication from Bakersfield College. Without those first steps filled with faith and determination, I would not have been able to go on to obtain my bachelor’s degree and further my career. Pursuing my education was the best decision I ever made and one I will never regret. Thank you for the opportunity.

Kenneth Estes – BC Class of 2003

I attended Bakersfield College in two different stints.  During my first go-around, I was clearly not ready for College, and I dropped most of my classes and passed a few others without note or distinction.

I decided to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which happens to have an Institute of Religion building across Mt. Vernon from the main campus.

After returning home from my mission, I began attending school at BC after spending a short period of time in the Oil Fields (not fun but honest work).  By the time Fall semester rolled around I was really nervous about College due to having been basically a failure up to that point. 

Enter Second part of American History (I think it was History 17B maybe?) with Professor Daymon Johnson.  That class changed everything.  I don’t know if any of you have ever experienced this, but sometime while attending that class I arrived at a point where learning and knowledge became a quest instead of a burden or an obstacle.  Sure there were still subjects that I struggled with the rest of my academic career, but the challenge was rewarding not annoying.  Dr. Johnson was engaging in lectures and extremely approachable outside of class. 

After that class, I had many great professors (shout out to Ishmael Kimbrough) at BC and from many of them, I learned the study skills and classroom etiquette which carried me on to a Bachelor’s Degree and a Juris Doctor.  But that class was the hinge on which the rest of my academic career swung.  And for that, I will always be grateful for Dr. Johnson and the College itself for what that has meant for the rest of my life.

BC Foundation 2020/2021 Financials at a Glance