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Dear Foothill–De Anza Community,
As we conclude another academic year, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary
achievements, resilience, and dedication that define our Foothill–De Anza community.
The end of the quarter is always a time of celebration and transition. Across our
colleges, students are completing degrees and certificates, transferring to four-year
universities, entering apprenticeships,launching new careers, and taking important next steps toward their goals. Their accomplishments
are a testament not only to their hard work and perseverance, but also to the unwavering
support provided by our faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and student
employees.
This time of year also offers an opportunity to recognize members of our community
who are beginning new chapters of their own. To our retirees, thank you for your years
of service, leadership, mentorship, and commitment to our students. Your contributions
have shaped our colleges and touched countless lives. While we will miss your daily
presence, your legacy will continue through the students, colleagues, and communities
you have impacted throughout your careers.
As we celebrate endings, we also embrace new beginnings. The summer months provide
opportunities for renewal, reflection, and preparation for the year ahead. They also
remind us that higher education is a journey of continuous growth for our students,
our employees, and our institution.
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Looking forward, I remain optimistic about the future of Foothill-De Anza. Together,
we continue advancing innovative programs, expanding pathways to opportunity, strengthening
workforce development, embracing emerging technologies, and deepening our commitment
to student success and equity. The challenges facing higher education are real, but
so too is the extraordinary potential of our colleges and the people who make them
thrive.
To those taking summer classes, I wish you continued success in your studies. To those
transferring to universities, beginning new careers, or pursuing new opportunities, congratulations and best wishes on the journey ahead. And to all members of our community, I hope
you find time this summer to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with family, friends,
and loved ones.
Thank you for everything you do to support our students and our mission. It is a privilege
to serve alongside you.
With gratitude,
Lee D. LambertChancellor
Foothill-De Anza Community College District
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Photo from left to right: Foothill College Student Trustee Marija Savinovic, Trustee
Pearl Cheng, Trustee President Godfrey, Phu An Nguyen, De Anza College, Mina Chau, Foothill College, Trustee Casas, De Anza College Student Trustee Lena Cung, Trustee Landsberger, and Trustee Alexander Gvatua.
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Celebrating Student Leadership
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Trustee Scholars and New Student Trustees Recognized
The District is proud to recognize outstanding student leaders and scholars whose
achievements reflect the talent, perseverance, and promise of our colleges.
Congratulations to our 2026 Trustee Scholarship recipients:
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Juan Deleon, Foothill College
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Mina Chau, Foothill College
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Phu An Nguyen, De Anza College
These students exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to making
a positive impact in their communities. The Trustee Scholarship recognizes students
who have demonstrated exceptional achievement while pursuing their educational goals.
We also extend our congratulations to our newly elected student trustees, who will represent the voices and interests
of students on the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees during the coming academic year:
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Lena Cung, De Anza College Student Trustee
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Marija Savinovic, Foothill College Student Trustee
Student trustees play a vital role in shared governance, providing valuable perspectives
that help shape district policies and decisions. Their leadership helps ensure that
student needs remain at the center of our work.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor's Office, we congratulate these
remarkable students and look forward to their continued contributions to our colleges
and communities!
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Photo from left to right:
Acting President David Wain Coon and Chancellor Lambert
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At the June 8, 2026, regular Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees approved an extension
of Acting President David Wain Coon's appointment at De Anza College to August 31,
2026.
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Acting President David Wain Coon to Continue in Role
The extension of his appointment will provide continued leadership and support as
the District moves forward with important initiatives and planning efforts. I am grateful
for Acting President Coon’s willingness to continue serving in this capacity and for
the partnership and collaboration he has fostered across the college.
Please join me in thanking him for his leadership and ongoing commitment to the De
Anza College community.
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Foothill-De Anza Vice Chancellor Hadsell Contributes to Statewide Innovation
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The Educational Technology Services (ETS) division is pleased to share that Vice Chancellor
and Chief Technology Officer Jory Hadsell will continue serving in an expanded leadership
role with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office through a year-long
interjurisdictional exchange assignment beginning July 1, 2026.
Since February 2025, Jory has balanced leadership responsibilities at Foothill-De
Anza with statewide efforts to modernize technology systems that support California's
116 community colleges. In his expanded role, he will help lead strategic technology
initiatives and advance critical modernization efforts across the statewide system.
This opportunity reflects the leadership, innovation, and expertise that have long
distinguished Foothill-De Anza as a model for technology-enabled student success and
institutional excellence. The statewide work builds upon many of the innovations developed
through our district's ETS team and reinforces the important role our district plays
in shaping the future of community college technology.
To ensure continuity of leadership and support for district technology operations,
Ron Sha will join Foothill-De Anza as Acting Vice Chancellor and Chief Technology
Officer from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Ron brings extensive Silicon Valley
technology leadership experience, as well as a deep commitment to community college
education through his work at Ohlone College and his leadership in advancing cybersecurity
and student scholarship opportunities.
During this period, Jory will remain engaged with district leadership on strategic
initiatives and will continue oversight of statewide projects connected to the California
Virtual Campus and Digital Center. ETS remains committed to supporting our colleges,
strengthening technology infrastructure, and advancing innovation in service of student
success.
We look forward to welcoming Ron to the district and supporting Jory as he continues
this important statewide service.
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Chancellor’s Substack
IRAC in the Age of AI
When AI can generate legal analysis instantly, the question isn't whether machines
can perform intellectual tasks—it's whether humans will continue developing the reasoning
and judgment that make those tools valuable. Law school's IRAC method taught disciplined
thinking that remains essential decades later, proving capability must come before
convenience.
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De Anza’s Third Place Finish at National Student Innovation Showcase
Twelve community college teams pitched real-world solutions at the Community College
Innovation Challenge on Capitol Hill. From microplastic filters to scam-prevention
apps, students applied STEM learning to problems affecting their communities—water
quality, food deserts, accessibility, and more. Read more
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Congratulations to Lisa Mandy!
Lisa is the Director of Financial Aid at De Anza College received the statewide Toni
Award from the California Community College Student Financial Aid Administrators Association
for her leadership and service on the executive board.
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District Attends California Community Colleges Digital Center Visit to Amazon Web
Services
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Photo from: Chancellor Lambert, Vice Chancellor Hadsell, and Kevin Kelly,
Executive Director (Interim)
Digital Center for Innovation, Transformation & Equity.
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Photo from: The California Community Colleges Digital Center at AWS.
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California Community Colleges Advance AI and Cloud Innovation Through AWS Partnership
Last week, leaders from the California Community Colleges and the Digital Center traveled
to Washington state to deepen collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and explore
emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and workforce
development.
This partnership continues to create meaningful pathways for students, faculty, and
colleges across California by expanding access to cutting-edge technology training
and industry-aligned learning opportunities.
As California Community Colleges continue to lead in digital transformation, partnerships
like these help ensure students gain the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly
AI-driven economy while advancing innovation, equity, and workforce opportunity across
the state.
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Investing in Leadership Across Our District
One of our greatest strengths as a district is the talent, dedication, and leadership
that exists at every level of our organization. That's why I am excited to share a
new professional development opportunity designed to help faculty, staff, and administrators
further develop their leadership skills and capacity for impact.
This summer, we will launch the inaugural cohort of Leadership Lab, a leadership development program that supports participants in strengthening self-awareness,
enhancing communication and collaboration skills, and deepening their understanding
of effective leadership practices.
Leadership is not defined by a title or position. It is demonstrated through our ability
to build relationships, foster trust, solve problems, and support the success of our
students and colleagues. Whether you currently supervise others or are interested
in growing your leadership abilities, Leadership Lab offers practical tools, meaningful
reflection, and opportunities to learn alongside colleagues from across the district.
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I encourage you to review the program information and consider applying. Additional
details, program dates, and application information are available on the HR Training
and Development website: https://hr.fhda.edu/train-dev/
Applications are now being accepted, and our first cohort will begin in early July.
I look forward to seeing this program help cultivate the next generation of leaders
across Foothill-De Anza.
For questions about the program or application process, please contact Tony Brown
at browntony@fhda.edu.
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Strategy, Institutional Effectiveness and Engagement
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Building a Sustainable Accessibility Culture
As part of our commitment to ensuring equal access for the one in four U.S. adults
living with a disability, the district is embarking on a comprehensive initiative
to meet ADA Title II digital accessibility standards. This civil-rights obligation
requires all district and college digital services—including public websites, PDFs,
mobile apps, online forms, and third-party tools—to conform to WCAG 2.1, level AA
guidelines. While the final compliance deadline has been extended to April 26, 2027,
our existing ADA obligations remain in effect, and we are utilizing this window to
remediate current content and establish sustainable processes for all newly created
materials.
To guide us through this transition, we are following a remediation roadmap that involves
inventorying all digital assets, conducting thorough audits, and prioritizing fixes
for high-traffic and service-critical areas. Support for faculty and staff will be
provided through a tiered training program: Tier 1 offers foundational awareness for
all staff; Tier 2 provides working knowledge for those who publish content; and Tier
3 supports our technical experts. By coordinating these efforts districtwide, we aim
to build on the excellent work already occurring at the colleges while standardizing
our approach to ensure a truly accessible "digital front door" for everyone.
In addition, the Chancellor's Advisory Council is excited to announce that our district
will officially begin participating in the State Chancellor's Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (ACMM), a transformative and globally recognized framework designed to help us advance digital
accessibility across our campuses. By joining this initiative and as part of the spring
2027 cohort, we are shifting from a reactive approach to a proactive, sustainable
model that integrates accessibility into every aspect of our operations—from instructional
materials and public websites to procurement and strategic planning. This collaborative
effort builds directly upon the diligent work already in progress at our colleges
and is a critical step in meeting our ADA Title II obligations by the April 2027 deadline
and beyond. Our participation will include a comprehensive districtwide assessment
on February 23 and 24, followed by a clear roadmap for continuous improvement, ensuring
that we remove institutional barriers and keep our "digital front door" open to every
member of our community. Stay tuned for more information in fall as we roll out with
training opportunities.
Funded by a grant from the systemwide Chancellor's Office, the CCC Accessibility Center
is found within the CCC Technology Center, hosted by Butte-Glenn Community College
District. Its mission is to support California Community Colleges and districts in
their accessibility efforts by providing guidance, training, tools, and technical
expertise. Memberships include Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD),
Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN), International Association of Accessibility
Professionals (IAAP).
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Updated 2026
End-of-Year Celebrations
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We look forward to the last few days of celebrating our students with you!
Thursday, June 25
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June 25 - 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Pharmacy Technology Program Graduation – Appreciation
Hall (1501) (Foothill Campus)
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June 25 - 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Vet Tech Celebration – Smithwick Theatre (Foothill Campus)
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June 25 - 4:00 p.m. – Nursing Pinning Ceremony – VPAC (De Anza Campus)
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June 25 - 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Radiologic Technology Program Celebration – Smithwick Theatre
(Foothill Campus)
Friday, June 26
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June 26 – 10:00-12:00 p.m. – 66th Annual Commencement Ceremony – Library Quad (Foothill Campus)
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June 26 - 12:30-1:30 p.m. – Dental Hygiene Celebration – Room 5015 (Foothill Campus)
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June 26 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Dental Assisting Celebration – Room 5015 (Foothill Campus)
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June 26 - 2:30-5:30 p.m. – Respiratory Therapy Graduation – Smithwick Theatre (Foothill
Campus)
Saturday, June 27
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