President’s Board Report Update 3.24.26
Check out President Olivo’s most recent Board Report shared at the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) Board of Trustees meeting on March 24, 2026. The Board of Trustees meetings take place on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
Men’s Basketball Named 3C2A Champions
Fullerton College’s men’s basketball team were named the 3C2A State Champions after a match against City College of San Francisco. Finishing with a 67-64 score, our Basketball Hornets’ big win marks the third championship under head coach Perry Webster in the last six seasons of the 3C2A tournament. Congratulations to our basketball team and their families!
Kelly Nelson-Wright Named 2026 Faculty of the Year
Fullerton College is excited to congratulate Kelly Nelson-Wright as our 2026 Faculty of the Year!
Kelly currently serves as Department Chair for the sociology department, the Social Science Division Curriculum Committee representative and as a member of the Fullerton College Honors Advisory Council and Transfer Advisory Committee.
Her career in academia has focused on various gender and family issues, including undergraduate and graduate-level research at CSUF on the effects of battering through the lens of “social breakdown syndrome.” Her master’s thesis was nominated for the Giles T. Brown Outstanding Thesis Award.
Kelly believes that education is a powerful tool for social transformation and strives to create an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students.
MESA Students Celebrate Research Opportunities
The MESA Program celebrates the achievements of three students who were accepted into incredible research opportunities:
- Diala Rhouli will venture to the University of California, Berkeley for the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) hosted by the NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials.
- Mark Okechukwu-Nwabueze was accepted to the 2026 Materials for Energy Transition Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Tulsa, where he will conduct research on electrical engineering methods.
- Daniel Son was accepted to the 2026 MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) and will research and study engineering.
Fullerton College Recognized as a Gilman Top Producing Institution
Fullerton College has been named a Top Producer for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The Gilman Program provides merit-based scholarships to students with high financial need to study or intern abroad. This recognition reflects our college’s commitment to helping students gain access to international experiences that help them gain competitive skills, global networks and lifelong success.
The Study Abroad Program offers students of all backgrounds the opportunity to go overseas and learn about new cultures, gain global awareness and foster a strong sense of independence and confidence. Open to Fullerton College and Cypress College students, the program is a collective effort on behalf of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD).
2026 French Film Festival Returns
Fullerton College’s French Film Festival is back for its fourteenth year, featuring two nights of recent French film releases to delight enthusiasts of all ages. This year’s screenings will be held at the Campus Theatre on two evenings: April 7 and 8. A cultural hour featuring complimentary food, music, dance and art starts at 6:30 p.m. in the patio area outside the box office, and all films begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased now through Eventbrite or at the Campus Theater box office.
Dr. Cynthia Olivo Named 67th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year
Fullerton College President Dr. Cynthia Olivo has been named the 67th Assembly District’s 2026 Woman of the Year. An honor recognized by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, this accolade speaks to Dr. Olivo’s exemplary leadership as she guides Fullerton College into growth, innovation and more.
Third Annual Monarch Conference Returns to FC
The Grads to Be Program is hosting its third annual Monarch Conference from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 20 via Zoom. This virtual event uplifts undocumented and immigration-impacted students through sessions on legal rights, advocacy and career pathways. We look forward to connecting with our community at this exciting event.
2026 Annual Women’s Caucus Event Unites NOCCCD Communities
Our Fullerton College and NOCCCD communities came together at the 2026 Annual Women’s Caucus. Hosted by the California Community Colleges, the Women’s Caucus celebrated the achievements of women through empowerment, connection and insightful presentations. We also had the pleasure of inviting co-founder of Porto’s Bakery, Betty Porto.
