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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Higher Education Consortium starts new year with new executive director, new location Fresno - The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) recently named Cheri Cruz executive director of the non-profit organization aimed at promoting a college-going culture in the Valley. Cruz replaces Allen Carden who helped launch the CVHEC in 2000 and successfully headed the organization until he returned to teaching earlier this year. Also, in an effort to be more accessible to the public, the consortium moved its office to the UC Merced Center in Fresno, which is located on Shaw Avenue across the street from Fashion Fair Mall. Born and raised in Fresno, Cruz is a first-generation college student who has dedicated her professional career to helping young people achieve their educational goals. She is well acquainted with the work of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium after having served as its associate director, reporting to Carden, from 2001 to 2005. “Cheri’s experiences both personally and professionally make her the right fit for the job, “ said Frank Gornick, president of the CVHEC and chancellor of West Hills Community College District. “She has the energy, creativity and enthusiasm to help move the consortium into the future.” Cruz graduated from McLane High School. She attended Fresno City College and transferred to California State University, Fresno where she earned a bachelor’s in English literature and a master’s in education counseling and student services. In addition to her position as executive director of the CVHEC, she is an adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University. “Our job is to show young people that college is an option,” said Cruz. “College graduates earn more, learn more and generally have more choices in life.” “We must encourage all kids to dream big,” she added. “The end result pays dividends to the students and to our community.” One of Cruz’s goals for the consortium is to make college-going information more readily available to students and parents who traditionally do not have access to it. Most recently, Cruz was a consultant with an educational consulting firm in Fresno where she developed programs and conducted program evaluations for K-12 and higher education institutions. Previously, she was director of extension and travel study programs at Fresno State. She also served as academic program coordinator for the UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research. Prior to that she was a program coordinator with Extended Opportunities Programs and Services at West Hills Community College District. Cruz is married with two children. Her husband, Derek, is an educator at Washington Union High School District. Both of her children attend Bullard TALENT Elementary School in Fresno Unified School District. For more information, please call (559) 292-0576 or visit: www.CollegeNext.org ### The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, established in March 2000, is a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting programs, policies and performance designed to increase higher education attainment in the 10-county area including Fresno, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Kings, Tulare, and Kern. The consortium comprises 24 public and private institutions of higher education from Stockton to Bakersfield. One of the consortium’s most important initiatives includes establishing a guaranteed transfer program. About 15 colleges and universities who make up the CVHEC agreed to participate in the program, which puts participating students at partnering community colleges on the right path to completing their associate’s degree and guarantees them admission to any of the six four-year universities in the Valley who also are taking part in the program. Other important initiatives include partnering with K-12 school districts and county offices of education to implement proven strategies aimed at resulting in more Valley students continuing their education beyond high school, and creating a Web site aimed at providing a one-stop shop for students interested in learning about higher education opportunities in the Valley. |
