San Diego Community College District

San Diego Miramar College alumnus wants to teach others about healthy eating - After graduating from culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Tiffany Kor moved to New York City to explore the city’s vibrant restaurant scene. She landed a job at a Mediterranean-Italian eatery that was a cafe by day and fine-dining restaurant by night. Less than a year later, however, that restaurant and thousands of others shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Kor lost her job. Ready for a career change, she returned to San Diego and enrolled in the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences program at San Diego Miramar College, with the goal of becoming a registered dietitian. Kor graduated from Miramar College in 2023, and is now attending San Diego State University, working toward her bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition. She was recently elected vice president of SDSU’s Student Nutrition Organization, which aims to serve the San Diego community through nutrition education, advocacy, and philanthropic activities. A Mira Mesa resident, Kor said Miramar College gave her the chance to start a second career. “I really enjoyed it,” she said about the college’s program. “It was like an introduction to nutrition and the careers I can go into. I’m glad I took that route.” In addition to becoming a dietitian, Kor is exploring careers in food science that would allow her to develop new and healthier products. “I really like the more holistic route of nutrition,” Kor said. “I enjoy the fact that I can educate and teach other people about healthier eating habits as well as ways to heal through food.” Read the full story at https://bit.ly/3TiOxx0

Students at San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College and San Diego College of Continuing Education hope to soon benefit from a $3.5-billion construction bond approved for the November ballot. Hear from Chancellor Gregory Smith and Mesa College Student Body President Zora Williams about the campus upgrade needs across the district on ABC 10News San Diego | KGTV Channel 10.

Health-and-fitness programs lead to vital careers, healthier communities - San Diego is consistently ranked as one of the healthiest cities in the nation and the San Diego Community College District is committed to helping it stay that way. In addition to training students for traditional healthcare careers, the District’s four colleges — San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and the San Diego College of Continuing Education — offer degrees and certificate programs in fields like nutrition, personal training, wellness coaching, and kinesiology that are pathways to health-and-wellness careers or four-year degrees in related sciences. Those fields support the region’s sports and active lifestyle industry, a diverse collection of businesses that cater to people who participate in sports, active lifestyle and leisure activities in San Diego. A 2018 report by the California State University San Marcos Office of Business Research and San Diego Sports Innovators found such businesses had a direct economic impact of $3.6 billion and created more than 67,000 jobs. For San Diegans pursuing a healthier lifestyle, SDCCD colleges also offer a variety of affordable sports, health, and fitness classes. Engaging in regular exercise can combat obesity, an epidemic affecting nearly 40% of adults in the U.S. and costing the healthcare system $173 billion a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sometimes, a passion for personal fitness can lead to a new career. For instance, Miramar College offers yoga courses that equip students to become registered yoga teachers with Yoga Alliance. City, Mesa and Miramar colleges all offer associate degrees in kinesiology, the study of human movement. A kinesiology degree can lead to a wide number of career paths, including as a physical therapist, strength coach, personal trainer, occupational therapist, physical education teacher, or physiologist. City College also offers a variety of health education, exercise science, athletics, and nutrition courses for students who want to improve their own health or explore fitness-related careers. Miramar and Mesa colleges both offer a Personal Training Certificate program that gives students the hands-on training and tools to become a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, or other fitness professional. For seniors looking to stay intellectually stimulated and improve their fitness, San Diego College of Continuing Education offers free noncredit classes through its Emeritus Program. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/3XA7Nrl

Stay safe and stay cool from San Diego’s excessive heat wave happening today through Friday! If you are on campus be sure to head indoors in air conditioned spaces like your campus library/LRC and resource centers. Hot weather can cause dehydration and increase the body’s core temperature, making it difficult for the body to function normally. Here are a few ways San Diego County advises us to take precaution: Stay somewhere cool or get to one of the County’s Cool Zones Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, and lots of sugar Wear light clothing and hats Avoid being outdoors during hottest part of the day (10am-4pm) Avoid strenuous activity Do not leave pets in cars

From cancer survivor to health and wellness coach - San Diego Mesa College alumnus Vasantha Eswara has turned her personal battle with breast cancer into a mission to support and empower other women as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). Eswara achieved her certification after completing Mesa’s Health and Wellness Certificate program in 2023. At the time, she was already a pharmacist with a master’s of science degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, along with a master’s in business administration from California State University, Sacramento. Her journey to wellness coaching began 20 years ago, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Eswara underwent chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries while raising her 4-year-old daughter. She said the challenging and life-changing experience fueled her desire to support other women facing similar ordeals. Though she had always loved helping others, it wasn’t until a friend suggested she get certified as a health and wellness coach that Eswara considered turning that passion into something more. After extensive research, she discovered the program at San Diego Mesa College, which is approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. The one-year program — with tuition for California residents costing approximately $746 — offered the best value with its excellent faculty and fully online format, Eswara said. This mix of live and asynchronous classes made it easy for her to participate, despite living in the Sacramento area. After completing the certificate of achievement program and earning her NBC-HWC certification, Eswara founded Sierra Cancer Wellness LLC., a health and wellness coaching service that offers personalized coaching and group workshops to provide holistic support to women affected by breast cancer. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/3APVS0R

Voice of San Diego reports on the San Diego Community College District’s next phase for four-year degrees at San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College: https://bit.ly/4e7kQH3

Health and wellness services helping students thrive - San Diego Community College District takes a holistic approach to student well-being, with programs that support physical, emotional, and mental health, helping students to succeed in higher education and beyond. Research shows that increased health and wellness can lead to higher retention rates and better academic performance. Across its four colleges, SDCCD offers students access to a variety of services and wellness activities with a goal to provide equitable and inclusive care and services, while eliminating barriers that might prevent students from seeking help. “Together, we can build a thriving community where we know how to find help when we need it,” said Poppy Fitch, dean of Wellness and Disability Support Programs and Services. “My vision is that at SDCCD, we commit to being well, together.” Students who are enrolled in at least one class at one of the three credit colleges have access to health services that are either free or significantly reduced in costs, so that all students can get the care they need. “We strive for continuous quality improvement, equitable access to services, culturally relevant programs, and significant contributions to student success,” said Suzanne Khambata, director of Student Health Services at San Diego Mesa College. “We do this with comfort, care, concern, and research-based evidence to support our practice.” Healthcare services offered by SDCCD include: diagnosis and treatment of illnesses; free visits with a registered nurse, medical doctor or nurse practitioner; weight, blood pressure, vision, diabetes, cholesterol, and tuberculosis screenings; lab tests; preventative care; and more. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/3z7YOFn

Hundreds of free career training programs begin today, September 3, 2024 at San Diego College of Continuing Education. The adult education college will introduce its Automation. Innovation. Robotics. (A.I.R.) Skills Technical Trades and Workforce Development Initiatives this fall. Within four to eight months students earn certificates in Automotive, Business, Accounting and Entrepreneurship, Child Development, Clothing and Textiles, Digital Media and Programming, Healthcare, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Information Technology, as well as Skilled and Technical Trades at no-cost. Classes are taught online and in person at seven campuses across San Diego located in Mountain View, Barrio Logan, Point Loma, Kearny Mesa, Fairmount, and at Mesa College and Miramar College. The College of Continuing Education’s A.I.R. initiatives encompass advanced automation, skilled trades, and consumer sciences, to address disparities in these industries incorporating Industry 4.0 and 5.0 level certifications. Phase one of A.I.R. is underway, student welders at the Educational Cultural Cultural Complex can now learn coding and robotics with futuristic robots and a Clothing and Textiles (CLTX) Fiber Technology Lab is breaking ground at West City Campus. Beginning fall 2024, the College of Continuing Education will offer all new CLTX curriculum: Sewn Product Construction Essentials, Advanced Sewing Construction, Industrial Sewing and Manufacturing, Pattern Fitting Technician, Pattern Making For Product Development, Digital Printing, Embroidery and Digitizing, and the Essential Digital Tools for Manufacturing. Additionally, students and the public will benefit from the college’s first CompTIA Testing Center opening at North City Campus amidst the fall semester. IT students and industry professionals will have access to secure exam proctoring. Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

The San Diego Community College District office and all campuses will be closed today in observance of Labor Day. There will be no classes held at San Diego City, Mesa or Miramar colleges or at any of our College of Continuing Education campuses. Classes and district services will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.

In case you missed it, SDCCD Chancellor Gregory Smith rappelled from the 35th story of the Manchester Grand Hyatt last weekend on August 25th in support of Reality Changers.