The Excellence in Communication and Educational Leadership (EXCEL) Academy was designed to grow individual leadership skills, enhance interpersonal and group communication, expand institutional / systemwide knowledge, and further develop team building skills.

Dr. Lisa Schenitzki excel academy director

EXCEL Academy Director

"It is truly an honor to lead the EXCEL Leadership Academy and witness our participants embark on this transformative journey. Watching them build leadership skills and forge meaningful relationships across our colleges and district services is both inspiring and rewarding. I look forward to seeing their growth throughout the program."

-- Dr. Lisa Schenitzki, EXCEL Academy Director

lschenitzki@saddleback.edu

Opportunity for Career Growth

picture of cindy vyskocil and an EXCEL member

The EXCEL Academy is a semester-long retreat and workshop series, sponsored by the District, and open to full-time and part-time Classified Staff, Faculty, and Managers.  EXCEL provides an opportunity for leaders across the District to work with each other in an effort to forward the vision and mission of the District by working more effectively together as a leadership team.

“Here in SOCCCD, we believe in collaboration and building teams of aspiring leaders who support each other on their development journey,” said Dr. Cindy Vyskocil, SOCCCD Vice Chancellor of Human Resources.

Activities

people in a workshop

EXCEL Leadership Academy participants meet throughout the semester as a group for three or more hours, in addition to a kick-off retreat where they will address topics related to communication, team dynamics, personal/professional growth, and overall leadership style.

 

 

 

 

 

group of women at a workshop

Topics will include, but are not limited to, the following: 

· Assessing our own strengths

· Institutional dynamics and culture

· Leadership through a DEIA lens

· Organizational Health

· Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

· Participatory Governance

· Being a leader in one’s current role

Join the Academy!

The program is open to a diverse group of classified staff, managers, and faculty from District Services, Irvine Valley College, and Saddleback College. Ideal candidates for the EXCEL program will have a willingness to be leaders that will inspire greatness throughout the South Orange County Community College District. Spots are limited for this opportunity, and we aim to have equal participation from Staff, Faculty, and Administrators. The program will reopen for applicants in the Fall.

Please note that participants are expected to commit to attending all events and workshops, which include the following:

  • The overnight, offsite retreat
  • Afternoon/Late Afternoon workshops during the semester
  • The capstone event in May

Class of 2025 (3rd cohort)

Diana Baltazar

Irvine Valley College

Dylan Bender

Irvine Valley College

Stephen Brown

Irvine Valley College

Sonya Carrasquillo

District Services

Keirsten Casaletta

Saddleback College

Roberto Caudillo

Saddleback College

Shelby Clatterbuck

Irvine Valley College

Casey Cooper

Saddleback College

Andrew Craven

Saddleback College

Alicia Cuevas

District Services

Christina Han

Irvine Valley College

Laura Hoffman

Saddleback College

Karen Kelley

Saddleback College

Emma Lenney

Saddleback College

Korey Lindley

Irvine Valley College

Anna MacDonald

Saddleback College

Art Nitta

Saddleback College

Dolores “Dolly” Paguirigan

Saddleback College

Judith “Judy” Ramirez

Saddleback College

Deejay Santiago

Irvine Valley College

Victor Valadez

Saddleback College

Brent Warner

Irvine Valley College

Violeta Zahrae

Saddleback College

2025 Schedule of Workshops

Click to view a PDF of the 2025 schedule

image of Excel academy 2025 schedule

 

 

Past Academy Classes

The 2nd EXCEL cohort completed their program in May of 2024!

group of people posing for a picture

Vice Chancellor Dr. Cindy Vyskocil and her team have led this effort and are proud to have trained the 2024 cohort of leaders, which included:

Rose Adon IVC Georgina Martinez Saddleback

Anthony Beccera Saddleback

Connie Ramos District

Jennifer Bonkowski District

Efren Rangel Saddleback

Vanessa Cortez District

Fiona Rashid Saddleback

Nikki Dao Saddleback

Kim Rezvani Saddleback

Christina Delgado IVC

Ana Rodriguez Saddleback

Raj Dhillon Saddleback

Julie Scholl IVC

Sue Donelson Saddleback

Sara Sperazza District

Anthony Ercolamento IVC

Timothy aka Tim VanNorman IVC

Tricia aka Trish Fain Saddleback

Debbie Vanschoelandt IVC

Janet Falcon District

Greg Vega IVC

Fleur Fong Saddleback

Ruby Villavisencio IVC

Connie Frey IVC

Nick Wilkening IVC

Jackie Han District

Sonja Wyche District

Anwar Hijaz Saddleback

Angela Yang Saddleback

Elliot Klinge Saddleback

Jackie Zimbalist Saddleback

Vanessa Lewis IVC

View a video slideshow below of the 2024 cohort's events and activities.

Excel Leadership Academy 2024 Cohort
Remote video URL

View photos from the 2nd Excel Cohort.

The first year of the program was 2023 and featured speakers from within the district, throughout the region, and across the state including, but not limited to, former California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Oakley, North Orange County Community College District Chancellor Byron Breland, and SOCCCD’s Chancellor Julianna Barnes.

graph that shows what the group learned, such as communication, autheniticity, self-reflection

“The EXCEL Leadership Academy was successful in its first year because of the dedicated people who helped organize a meaningful and engaging series of professional development opportunities, such as Vice Chancellor Vyskocil and her team, but also because of the participants of the program who are committed to excellence for themselves and for the students we serve. The passion amongst these leaders to learn, know, and give the best is evident. I can not wait to see what they will do next with the knowledge gained from this program,” said SOCCCD Chancellor, Dr. Julianna Barnes.

group of people posing and smiling

View photos from the first EXCEL cohort