WHERE CERRITOS LEADS THE CONVERSATION Making Headlines That Matter
From national news to local airwaves, Cerritos College is capturing attention and changing the conversation about what community colleges can achieve. Our stories are being told across California and beyond, but the impact starts right here at home.
Championing Bachelor’s Degrees for California’s Workforce When President/Superintendent Dr. Jose Fierro spoke out about the future of bachelor’s degrees in California, EdSource took notice. In his op-ed “Why California Must Champion Community College Bachelor’s Degrees,” Dr. Fierro made the case for affordable, workforce-ready bachelor’s degree pathways that create opportunity without debt. Cerritos College is leading that mission with its proposed Bachelor of Science in Field Ironworker Supervisor program. This degree offers what working families need most: low cost, local access, flexibility, and career advancement. The direct path from apprenticeship to high-wage leadership roles fills a statewide workforce gap and allows ironworkers to earn more without pausing their careers. California doesn’t just need more degrees. It needs degrees that work. Degrees that close workforce gaps and lift communities. Cerritos College is leading the way.
Manufacturing Day on Univision For many students, Manufacturing Day is more than a campus visit. It’s a career awakening, a chance to discover a future built on skills, purpose, and opportunity. Cerritos College hosted more than 400 high school students for hands-on experiences in automotive, cosmetology, engineering design, welding, and advanced manufacturing. Students explored our labs, met faculty and industry mentors, and saw how training can lead directly to high-paying careers. Univision (KMEX) featured the event on “ Noticias ,” highlighting how Cerritos College is building Southern California’s skilled workforce and expanding access to technical careers. Students left inspired and informed, with a clear path forward and the confidence to pursue it.
This is more than a degree. It’s a path to economic prosperity and mobility for our local communities. – Dr. Jose Fierro, President/Superintendent
Art That Inspires
The New York Times spotlighted the Cerritos College Art Gallery for its exhibition “PETER CARR: Artist for Survival,” a powerful retrospective honoring the poet and activist whose work confronted war, politics, and social change. The exhibition featured large-scale paintings, political posters, and handwritten journals, giving viewers a rare look into Carr’s fearless voice and creative resistance. His work challenged institutions, questioned injustice, and sparked conversation, just as it did in the 1970s along the California coast. At Cerritos College, art isn’t silent. Art is a voice for change.
Leading the Way Forward
SCAN ME for hands-on career training. www.cerritos.edu/cte/trade-programs.htm
Whether it’s policy, art, or workforce innovation, Cerritos College keeps raising the bar for what a community college can be. We don’t just join the conversation. We lead it.
12 C erritos College SOAR | 2025 EDITION
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Cerritos College SOAR | 2025 EDITION
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