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.
Opportunity for Career Growth
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
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.
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:
- Overnight, offsite retreat
- Afternoon/late afternoon workshops during the semester
- Capstone event in May
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.
Past Academy Classes
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
The 2nd EXCEL cohort completed their program in May of 2024!
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
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.
“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.
