Award-winning PCC teacher named Acting Assistant Vice Chancellor | News

Pima Community College has appointed a language teacher with the college for 15 years, to the Assistant Vice Chancellor (acting) position.

Dr. Dolores Duran-Cerda, was selected from eight candidates for the job, she will join the administrative team in May, when her work with the Downtown Campus is finished. Her new duties will include coordinating research projects, responding to concerns and working closely with the Provost, Interim Chancellor and the Board of Governors on issues with college curriculum, policies and initiatives.

Earlier this month, Durán-Cerda was named Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Language Association in recognition of her teaching excellence and outstanding service in foreign language education.  She first worked with PCC as an adjunct faculty member in 1997, she has since been president of PCC's Faculty Senate and also serves as a coordinator for the honors program and is a member of the World Languages Academic Advisory Committee of the College Board.

Among her many qualifications she has an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in Spanish, French, and Secondary Education, she graduated with honors.  She also holds a master's and doctoral degrees from the Department of Spanish and Portugese at the University of Arizona.

At the PCC Governing Board’s September 2011 meeting, Dr. Durán-Cerda made an eloquent public comment in support of new admission standards.

“I come before you not only as an involved and active educator, but also as a community member, a Latina/Chicana, daughter of a migrant worker, and wife to a soldier who is currently deployed,” she told the Board. “I am someone who is proud and honored to teach, educate, and learn at Pima Community College.” 

Durán-Cerda is replacing Deborah Yoklic, who was moved to the Acting Vice President of Instruction position at East Campus earlier this month.  She is just waiting for final approval from the PCC Governing Board on this new position.

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is May 16 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington Road. Also starting in May, the Board will rotate its regularly scheduled meetings among all PCC facilities.